The state’s seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from April’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.8 percent.
North Carolina’s May 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 12,280 over the month to 4,774,254 and increased 64,944 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 5,969 over the month to 213,611 and decreased 6,727 over the year..
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 21,600 to 4,502,100 in May. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services at 8,800, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 6,000; Manufacturing, 3,300; Education & Health Services, 3,000; Financial Activities, 600; Construction, 500; Information, 300; and Other Services, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 700; and Government, 300. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the month..
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since May 2017
| May2017 | June2017 | July2017 | Aug2017 | Sep2017 | Oct2017 | Nov2017 | Dec2017 | Jan2018 | Feb2018 | Mar2018 | Apr2018 | May2018 | |
| N.C. | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| U.S. | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
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* Please note: 2017 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since May 2017, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 99,600 with the Total Private sector growing by 94,900 and Government increasing by 4,700. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 27,700, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 20,400; Education & Health Services, 11,400; Manufacturing, 10,100; Construction, 8,300; Financial Activities, 5,900; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 5,400; Information, 4,900; Government, 4,700; Other Services, 600; and Mining & Logging, 200.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, June 27, 2018 when the county unemployment rates for May 2018 will be released.