Iredell County Unemployment Remains Below State Average in Latest Report

The latest employment figures show Iredell County continues to maintain a lower unemployment rate than much of North Carolina, reflecting steady job conditions locally despite a slight rise statewide.

According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in January 2026, unchanged from the previous month. State officials reported more than 203,000 North Carolinians were unemployed at the start of the year.

In Iredell County, the most recent county-level data shows the unemployment rate at 3.1 percent in December 2025, remaining below the statewide average and signaling continued stability in the local workforce.

State officials also noted that unemployment rates increased in all 100 counties in January as seasonal hiring slowed following the holiday season, pushing North Carolina’s not seasonally adjusted statewide rate to 4.1 percent.

Economic analysts say Iredell County’s relatively low unemployment rate continues to reflect the strength of the region’s manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and retail sectors, which have helped support steady employment across the county.

While some counties across North Carolina experienced sharper increases, Iredell County remains among the stronger labor markets in the region as employers continue to seek workers in several key industries.