The state’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, remaining unchanged from October’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent.
North Carolina’s November 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.9 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 3,415 over the month to 4,814,098 and increased 68,418 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 4,294 over the month to 177,230 and decreased 44,690 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 3,400 to 4,537,900 in November. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Trade, Transportation & Utilities at 4,800, followed by Information, 700; Financial Activities, 600; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 300; Government, 300; Education & Health Services, 200; and Manufacturing, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Professional & Business Services, 1,700; Construction, 1,500; and Other Services, 400. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the month.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since November 2017
| Nov 2017 | Dec 2017 | Jan 2018 | Feb 2018 | Mar 2018 | Apr 2018 | May 2018 | June 2018 | July 2018 | Aug 2018 | Sep 2018 | Oct 2018 | Nov 2018 | |
| N.C. | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| U.S. | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
* Please note: 2017 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since November 2017, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 100,700 with the Total Private sector growing by 96,900 and Government increasing by 3,800. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Trade, Transportation & Utilities at 25,600, followed by Professional & Business Services, 23,300; Education & Health Services, 14,100; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 9,000; Financial Activities, 8,600; Construction, 7,200; Manufacturing, 6,400; Government, 3,800; and Information, 3,300. Major industries experiencing decreases were Mining & Logging, 300; and Other Services, 300.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Thursday, January 3, 2019 when the county unemployment rates for November 2018 will be released.