Employment rose in 10 of the 14 largest counties in North Carolina from September 2024 to September 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that New Hanover County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 2.5 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in North Carolina, September 2025

County	Percent change, September 2025
New Hanover	2.5
Pitt	2.3
Cabarrus	2.2
Wake	1.5
Iredell	1.3
Mecklenburg	1.1
Forsyth	0.7
Orange	0.6
Guilford	0.5
Catawba	0.1
Gaston	-0.2
Cumberland	-0.4
Durham	-1.6
Buncombe	-2.1

Among the 14 largest counties in North Carolina, employment was highest in Mecklenburg (789,800) in September 2025. Together, the 14 largest counties accounted for 62.0 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.2 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)

All 14 large North Carolina counties reported average weekly wage gains over the year. (See chart 2.) Catawba had the largest increase (+6.4 percent). Over-the-year wage changes for North Carolina's other 13 large counties ranged from 5.8 percent to 2.0 percent.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in North Carolina, third quarter 2025

County	Percent change, third quarter 2025
Catawba	6.4
New Hanover	5.8
Durham	5.0
Buncombe	4.8
Guilford	4.5
Wake	4.4
Forsyth	4.3
Pitt	4.3
Cumberland	3.9
Iredell	3.9
Gaston	3.7
Mecklenburg	3.7
Cabarrus	2.1
Orange	2.0

Weekly wages in 4 of the 14 largest counties in North Carolina were above the national average of $1,459. Average weekly wages ranged from $1,940 in Durham to $1,073 in Gaston.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 86 small counties in North Carolina, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all 86 smaller counties were below the national average. Union reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,231). Pamlico reported the lowest average weekly wage ($729) in the state.

Among all 100 North Carolina counties, 28 reported average weekly wages of less than $925, 25 had wages from $925 to $974, 17 had wages from $975 to $1,024, 10 had wages from $1,025 to $1,074, and 20 had average weekly wages of $1,075 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)