Greensboro's jobless rate fell to 3.6% in September, the lowest September since at least 2015. About 1,200 fewer residents were out of work than a year earlier.
Greensboro’s unemployment rate fell to 3.6% in September 2026, down from 4.3% in August and from 4.3% in September 2025.
That is the lowest September rate for the city since at least 2015. It also matches the lowest rate for any month in that time, a level the city last reached in April 2023.
The figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Local Area Unemployment Statistics for the city of Greensboro. The September number is preliminary and can be revised.
The numbers
| Greensboro residents | September 2025 | September 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor force | 150,324 | 148,561 | down 1,763 |
| Unemployed | 6,525 | 5,284 | down 1,241 |
| Employed | 143,799 | 143,277 | down 522 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 3.6% | down 0.7 points |
The labor force counts residents who have a job or are looking for one. The BLS publishes the labor force and the number unemployed. The employed figure in the table is the difference between the two.
About 1,200 fewer residents were out of work than a year earlier. But the number with a job was also slightly lower, by about 500. As in August, part of the drop in the rate came from a smaller labor force.
The figures count where people live, not where they work. A Greensboro resident with a job in High Point, about 12 miles southwest, counts as employed in Greensboro.
From August to September
The month brought a clearer gain. Between August and September:
- the number of unemployed residents fell by 1,008, to 5,284
- the number of employed residents rose by 2,273, to 143,277
- the labor force grew by 1,265, to 148,561
The BLS revised August slightly. It now puts the labor force at 147,296 and the unemployed at 6,292. August’s rate stays at 4.3%.
These city and county rates are not seasonally adjusted, so they move with the school year and summer jobs. The rate also fell from August to September last year, from 4.8% to 4.3%. That is why the fairest test is the same month a year earlier.
Twelve Septembers
The city’s September rate peaked at 8.1% in 2020, during the pandemic. It came closest to this year’s figure in 2018 and 2023, at 3.7% both times. All figures are from the BLS city series.
Guilford County
Guilford County’s rate fell further. It was 3.4% in September 2026, down from 4.2% in August and from 4.2% a year earlier, according to the BLS county series.
About 9,105 county residents were unemployed, against 11,221 in September 2025. The county labor force was 265,551, about 3,050 smaller than a year earlier.
What it means for you
- If you are looking for work: about 5,300 Greensboro residents were in the same position in September. NCWorks, the state’s job service, lists openings and career centers on ncworks.gov.
- If you are watching the local economy: the drop from August came with more residents working, which is the healthier kind of fall. Over the full year, the count of employed residents was still slightly lower.
- Next update: we will report October’s city and county figures when the BLS publishes them.
Our August report has the figures for the previous month. For more on the city’s numbers, see our pages on Greensboro’s population and home prices.
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