The state’s seasonally adjusted November 2023 unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, increasing 0.1 of a percentage point from October’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.7 percent.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 0.4 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 2,417 over the month to 5,095,540 and increased 134,850 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 2,816 over the month to 182,214 and decreased 17,642 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 13,600 to 4,949,300 in November. Major industries experiencing increases were Professional & Business Services, 3,100; Education & Health Services, 2,900; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 2,800; Construction, 2,500; Government, 2,500; Financial Activities, 2,300; Other Services, 500; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,900; Information, 1,100; and Manufacturing, 100.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since November 2022
| Area | Nov 2022 | Dec 2022 | Jan 2023 | Feb 2023 | Mar 2023 | Apr 2023 | May 2023 | June 2023 | July 2023 | August 2023 | Sep 2023 | Oct 2023 | Nov 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N.C. | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.5 |
| U.S. | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.7 |
* Please note: 2022 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since November 2022, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 103,800 with the Total Private sector increasing by 86,800 and Government increasing by 17,000. Major industries experiencing increases were Education & Health Services, 33,800; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 21,200; Professional & Business Services, 20,300; Government, 17,000; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 11,300; Financial Activities, 4,200; Other Services, 2,100; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Manufacturing, 5,500; Construction, 500; and Information, 200.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Thursday, January 4, 2024 when the county unemployment rates for November 2023 will be released.