Mountain Area Unemployment Rate 3.2%

Unemployment rate in Mountain Area region was 3.2% as of June 2026. There are 2,899 less employed individuals compared to one year ago. Unemployed Individuals by month (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania Counties):



June 2026 7,860

May 2026 7,907

April 2026 7,732

March 2026 8,042

February 2026 8,763

January 2026 8,251

December 2025 7,967

November 2025 10,140

October (Unavailable)

September 2025 9,024

August 2025 10,046

July 2025 9,622

June 2025 10,610



Note there are some statistical disparities between the data reported for the Asheville metro and the Mountain Area Workforce region as the metro includes Haywood County but does not include Transylvania County. The Mountain Area Workforce region includes Transylvania County but not Haywood County.


Total Labor Force 217,351

Total Employed Labor Force 210,419

Among the metro areas, Asheville had the 2nd lowest unemployment rate at 3.2%. Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.7% (as of June 2026) while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.1%. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.3%. Currituck County had the lowest unemployment at 2.7%.


Buncombe 3.2%

Haywood 3.2%

Henderson 3.0%

Madison 3.4%

Transylvania 3.3%

Change in Unemployed Indidviduals Relative to 2018

Mountain Area Labor Force (compared to 5 years ago)

Mountain Area Employed Individuals (compared to 5 years ago)

Mountain Area Unemployment Rate

Mountain Area Unemployed Individuals (compared to 5 years ago)

Asheville MSA Industry Jobs (compared to one year ago)

Asheville MSA Jobs

Mountain Area Job Openings

Mountain Area WDB Taxable Retail Sales

North Carolina's June County and Area Unemployment Figures Released

RALEIGH — Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 39 counties, decreased in 16, and remained unchanged in 45 in June 2026. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.3 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. Seven of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases and eight remained unchanged. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.7 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.1 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.5 percent.

U.S. Department of Commerce Announces $34.2 Million in Disaster Recovery Awards for North Carolina | U.S. Economic Development Administration

ASHEVILLE, NC - Today, Paul M. Dabbar, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce, announced $34.2 million in Disaster recovery awards for North Carolina, provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA). U.S.

No Moving Truck Required: Why Community Colleges May Be Rural NC's Best Retention Strategy - Blue Ridge Community College

Featured Photo: Blue Ridge Community College is located in Western North Carolina, serving Henderson and Transylvania counties, and surrounding communities. (Photo by: Rich Keen) By: Dr. Laura B. LeatherwoodPresident, Blue ...

Partnership Writes Children's Book on Manufacturing - Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development

This week, the Board and staff of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development (HCPED) and the Economic Investment Fund (EIF) of Henderson County unveiled a special project with the release of You Can Make It!, the first-ever children's book created by the Partnership.

Strong Wage Growth is Key to North Carolina's Economic Vitality

For over a decade, all of North Carolina's eight Prosperity Zones scored below the national benchmark for wage rates. Despite this, North Carolina has ranked...

NC Employment Gains Clustered While Wages Outpaced Inflation in Most Counties in 2025

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The Challenges and Opportunities of Rural Economic Development

Daniel Davis talks about the barriers that rural communities face in fully realizing their economic potential and how economic development professionals have addressed those barriers. He also shares insights on this topic from the speakers at an Investing in Rural America webinar in June 2026.

NC Wages Outpaced Inflation as Employment Grew in 2025

North Carolina's wages outpaced national inflation in 2025, with the average weekly wage rising faster than consumer prices. Employment also grew faster than...

In NC economic rankings, strong sectors overshadow affordability issues, for now

Finance network CNBC ranked the Tar Heel State the second-best state to do business in the latest edition of its annual rankings. It's the seventh year in a row the state has ranked among the top three.

Sent on behalf of Thermo Fisher Scientific

 

Dear Hiring Manager,

 

Thermo Fisher Scientific is pleased to invite your organization to participate in an upcoming Recruiting Job Fair to support colleagues at our Asheville, North Carolina facility, which is currently scheduled to close on December 31, 2026.

 

This event will provide employers with a unique opportunity to connect directly with skilled professionals seeking new career opportunities. Our workforce includes employees with experience across manufacturing, operations, quality, engineering, supply chain, and other functions.

 

Event Location:

Thermo Fisher Scientific

275 Aiken Road

Asheville, NC 28804

 

Job Fair Dates:

October 20–21, 2026

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each day

 

Your organization's assigned event date will be confirmed after registrations have been received and event planning is finalized.

 

Participating employers will be provided with a 2-foot by 5-foot recruiting table for candidate engagement.

 

If your organization is interested in participating, please complete the Employer Registration Form using the link below:

 

Thermo Fisher Scientific Job Fair - Employer Registration

 

To assist us with event planning, staffing, and logistics, we kindly ask that you confirm your participation no later than August 31, 2026. Receiving responses by the end of August will allow us to finalize the event schedule and provide participating organizations with their assigned recruiting date.

 

As we get closer to the event, we will share additional details regarding event logistics, setup instructions, parking, and attendee information.

 

We appreciate your consideration and hope you will join us in supporting our employees as they prepare for their next career opportunities.

 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the event, please don't hesitate to reach out.

 

We look forward to hearing from you.

WNC Hurricane Helene Impacts - Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce

Riverbird Research, a division of the Asheville Chamber, has conducted a series of three surveys over the last year and a half with regional partners to help assess the impact of Hurricane Helene on businesses across the region. The third of three surveys is now complete.

Computer Science and the Future: Two Decades of UNC Graduates and Where They Work

Over the past several years, Computer Science has been a field associated with strong demand and high wages, yet the advancement of artificial intelligence...

 

 Thank you Barbara for over 30 years of dedicated service to North Carolina and our region.

Barbara Darby has devoted more than two decades to advancing workforce development and strengthening communities across Western North Carolina through her leadership at Land of Sky Regional Council and the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board. Throughout her career, she has championed innovative workforce initiatives, built lasting partnerships with employers and community organizations, and helped create opportunities for countless job seekers and businesses. Her dedication, expertise, and commitment to public service have earned her the respect of colleagues across the region, including being recognized with North Carolina’s prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine. As Barbara begins her well-earned retirement, she leaves behind a legacy of collaboration, mentorship, and meaningful impact that will continue to shape the region for years to come. On behalf of everyone whose lives and careers she has touched, we thank Barbara for her extraordinary service and wish her every happiness in this next chapter. 

Big Ivy Community Center in Barnardsville starting August 3

A-B Tech Madison starting September 14

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