Covering approximately 514 square miles, Burke County is home to more than 88,000 people. Just over 67% of the population is of working age with 31% of the work force employed in production related positions. Morganton, the county seat, covers over 18.5 square miles. Morganton’s population exceeds 17,000.
Burke, Caldwell, Catawba and Alexander counties comprise the Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and are also known as the “Unifour Region.” The MSA, or Unifour,has a population of over 355,000. The 2008 civilian labor force estimate for the four counties exceeded 172,000. North Carolina is a right to work state. Burke County has one organized manufacturing firm out of over 125 manufacturing companies.
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* Partially within Burke County
| Year | Civilian Labor | Unemp. Rate |
| 1990 | 41830 | 5% |
| 1995 | 42550 | 5% |
| 2000 | 46089 | 3.6% |
| 2008 | 40730 | 10.8% |
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