Department of Numbers

Rocky Mount, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rocky Mount fell 0.3 percentage points in January 2023 to 5.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 2.0 percentage points higher than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Rocky Mount peaked in April 2009 at 14.4% and is now 8.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.5% in February 2020, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.3 percentage points. You can also compare Rocky Mount unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
North Carolina 3.8% 0.0 +0.2
Rocky Mount 5.8% -0.3 -0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Rocky Mount, North Carolina, National

Rocky Mount, North Carolina monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Rocky Mount, North Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Rocky Mount peaked in April 2009 at 10,496. There are now 6,900 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,848 in February 2020, the number of unemployed has now grown by 748. Rocky Mount employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rocky Mount, North Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Rocky Mount 3,596 -149 -225

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rocky Mount, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
North Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Rocky Mount
Unemployment Rate
Rocky Mount
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.8% 5.8% 3,596
December
2022
3.5% 3.8% 6.1% 3,745
November
2022
3.6% 3.9% 6.2% 3,814
October
2022
3.7% 3.9% 6.1% 3,795
September
2022
3.5% 3.9% 6.0% 3,714
August
2022
3.7% 3.9% 5.9% 3,698
July
2022
3.5% 3.7% 5.9% 3,651
June
2022
3.6% 3.6% 5.9% 3,691
May
2022
3.6% 3.4% 5.9% 3,652
April
2022
3.6% 3.3% 5.9% 3,674
March
2022
3.6% 3.3% 5.9% 3,680

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.