Harnett County, NC jobs, unemployment and layoffs
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Show me jobs near meHarnett County economy
3.4%
unemployment, Sep 2026
3.9% the month before
61,122
in the labor force
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
136,503
people in Harnett County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
$69,012
median household income
Source: Census ACS
36%
of workers in white-collar occupations
Management, business, financial and professional; Census ACS
Where Harnett County ranks
Where Harnett County placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #4Counties with the most job centers per unemployed person in the Southeast14.5 per 10,000 · of 100
- #12Fastest-growing job markets in the Southeast+11.4% · of 100
- #13Counties with the most job centers per unemployed person14.5 per 10,000 · of 100
Harnett County outlook: Building
Built from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census figures. It describes the area, not any one employer in it.
- Private-sector jobs up 11.4% from 2022 to 2025
- Population up 12.3% from 2020 to 2025
- Unemployment 3.4%, down 0.5 points from a year ago
- Sectors adding the most jobs: construction (+636 jobs), admin & staffing (+509 jobs)
Local job-market news
Recent headlines about layoffs, AI and jobs in Harnett County. Each link goes to the publisher.
- School Board Candidates Debate Closures, Spending, and Student OpportunitiesCityView NC · Oct 15, 2026
- Why Keith Byrd Is Running for Cumberland County Board of EducationCityView NC · Oct 6, 2026
- Daniel Tosh takes aim at Fayetteville after Crown Theatre show canceledWNCT Greenville on MSN · Oct 5, 2026
- Daniel Tosh blasts Fayetteville after Crown Theatre show canceledThe Fayetteville Observer · Oct 2, 2026
Learn and get funded in Harnett County
- Which AI skills each kind of job asks for, with the pay premium.
- Your local workforce board and American Job Centers: training vouchers and re-employment help.
- Grants and funding for job seekers, ranked for your state and situation.
- Unemployment benefits by state, if you are between jobs.
Harnett County layoffs
No layoff notices naming Harnett County in the last 12 months are on file. The WARN Act covers employers with 100 or more workers, so smaller layoffs are not in it.
Employers hiring most in Harnett County
Employers with the most open professional roles in this county’s cities. The county is taken from each job’s city, so roles with no city are not counted.
- Campbell University20 open roles
- First Choice Community Health Centers5 open roles
- Harnett County Schools1 open role
Colleges in Harnett County
| College | City | Type | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private non-profit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| Heritage Bible College | Dunn | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
Workforce development and job centers
The public workforce board and American Job Centers serving Harnett County. They offer free help with job search, training and filing for benefits.
Laid off in North Carolina? How to file for unemployment in North Carolina (steps, weekly amount and the appeal deadline).
- Mid-Carolina Workforce Development Board
Cumberland, Harnett, Montgomery, Moore, Sampson
NCWorks Career Center- Capital Area(Fuquay-Varina)
Fuquay Varina · Comprehensive · 919-557-1121
Monday - Thurs 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Fri 8:30am-2Pm
NCWorks Career Center - Harnett County Lillington
Lillington · Affiliate · 910-893-2191
Monday- Thursday 8:00 am-5:00pm & and Friday 7:00am-3:30pm
NCWorks Career Center Hartnett County
Lillington · Comprehensive · 910-893-2191
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Cities in Harnett County
Other North Carolina counties
Laid off or looking for work in Harnett County?
See what to do first and the jobs open near you.
See your options after a layoffSources: Census Bureau and BLS (county unemployment is not seasonally adjusted); layoff notices from North Carolina’s published record; job counts from our live job board; IPEDS for colleges; CareerOneStop for workforce boards and job centers. North Carolina unemployment benefits and severance rules.
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