Revised Data Shows Unemployment Increased in 95 North Carolina Counties, While Decreasing In Two

This month, revised data from the North Carolina Department of Commerce shows that the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 95 counties in August 2025, decreased in two, and remained unchanged in three. All fifteen of North Carolina’s metro areas experienced an increased unemployment. The not seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate was 4.0% compared to the national average of 4.3% last month.  

Overall, the key indicators remain relatively unchanged according to the NC Today Dashboard operated by the N.C. Department of Commerce.  

Western North Carolina Focus 

The Asheville Metro area is still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The area has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is considerably lower than the highest rate experienced by the Rocky Mount MSA of 5.5%. While jobs in the travel and tourism sector have fallen away, healthcare and education sectors have been hiring. The census data shows that HCA Healthcare and Mission Health have been the leading private sector employer, hiring over 1,000 individuals.