New Hanover County has ranked among the top counties in North Carolina for recovered unpaid wages over the past fiscal year.
The N.C. Department of Labor had a record-shattering year for wage recovery for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, with $3.7 million in recovered wages across 89 counties. New Hanover made up for $77,980.52 of the total figure, establishing it as the No. 7 county in the state for wage recovery. New Hanover reported 62 complaints of unpaid wages.
The recoveries stemmed from NCDOL investigations into thousands of complaints involving unpaid final checks, withheld commissions, unauthorized deductions and other violations of the N.C. Wage and Hour Act. Cases spanned a number of industries including construction, manufacturing, hospitality,
retail, health care, transportation and agriculture.
“Today is a win for workers. It’s a win for the people who show up every day, put in the hours and do the job,” Labor Commissioner Luke Farley said. “When a worker comes forward with a concern, they should know that the North Carolina Department of Labor is committed to helping them. Most businesses want to comply with the law, and our goal is always to work with them toward voluntary compliance.”
The NCDOL Wage and Hour Bureau enforces state wage laws through investigations, compliance assistance, and enforcement actions. The bureau also provides education, training and technical guidance to help employers understand their obligations and prevent violations.
Over the last decade, NCDOL has recovered $17.9 million in unpaid wages. This year’s $3.7 million recovery represents a 164% increase in recovery since 2016.
Here are the top 10 N.C. counties for recovered wages in the past fiscal year:
- Wake - $723,000
- Guilford - $687,000
- Mecklenburg - $582,000
- Forsyth - $173,000
- Durham - $105,000
- Union - $82,000
- New Hanover - $78,000
- Alamance - $75,000
- Gaston - $59,000
- Cumberland - $55,000
Workers who believe they have not received wages they are owed — including regular wages, final paychecks; commissions, bonuses or vacation pay promised in writing; or money lost through unauthorized deductions — are encouraged to submit a complaint to NCDOL. Complaints can be filed on the department’s website or by calling 1-800-625-2267.
Daniel Sheehan covers New Hanover County for the StarNews. Reach him at dsheehan@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New Hanover among top 10 NC counties for wage recovery. See the full list
