The persistent high unemployment rate in Buncombe County, North Carolina, continues to vex local officials and residents, particularly in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. Although the county’s unemployment rate no longer tops the state’s metro areas, its struggle to reinvigorate job growth, especially in the hospitality industry, is evident. The neighboring counties are witnessing a gradual improvement in their unemployment situation, unlike Buncombe County and Mitchell County. Both still hold onto a 4.7% unemployment rate, second only to Edgecombe County at 4.9%, as revealed in a commerce department study.

Buncombe County reported a decline in unemployment numbers, from 7,505 in March to 6,634 in April. The Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area, which comprises of Buncombe, Henderson and Madison counties, also observed a half percentage point decrease in joblessness to 4.2%. However, the Asheville MSA is still trailing behind the Rocky Mount MSA with an unemployment rate of 4.5%.

Economic consultant, Dan Gerlach, indicated during a recent Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority meeting that job recovery depends heavily on the rehabilitation of the hospitality sector. Currently, the sector is still grappling with the deficit of around 2,400 jobs compared to last year’s figures. Even though businesses in the River Arts District and Biltmore Village have sprung back into action since the storm, the hospitality sector is far from its pre-storm state.

The April 2025 labor force saw a dip of 1,500 people compared to the same month in the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. State and federal aid have been directed towards businesses in the region. Small business grants have benefited over 2,000 local enterprises. An additional $225 million recovery action plan was approved on May 15, with $17 million specifically earmarked for small businesses affected by the storm.

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