The state’s seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate was 4.0 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.6 percent.
North Carolina’s October 2019 unemployment rate increased 0.3 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 12,594 over the month to 4,924,454 and increased 123,870 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 4,276 over the month to 204,151 and increased 19,615 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 7,200 to 4,589,100 in October. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 7,500; Manufacturing, 3,300; Financial Activities, 2,800; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Professional & Business Services, 3,500; Government, 1,400; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 800; Construction, 400; Information, 200; Education & Health Services, 100; and Other Services, 100.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since October 2018
| Oct 2018 | Nov 2018 | Dec 2018 | Jan 2019 | Feb 2019 | Mar 2019 | Apr 2019 | May 2019 | June 2019 | July 2019 | August 2019 | Sep 2019 | Oct 2019 | |
| N.C. | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.0 |
| U.S. | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.6 |
* Please note: 2018 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since October 2018, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 90,800 with the Total Private sector increasing by 86,300 and Government increasing by 4,500. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Leisure & Hospitality Services at 26,700, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 24,700; Education & Health Services, 15,500; Financial Activities, 9,700; Professional & Business Services, 7,000; Government, 4,500; Other Services, 3,800; and Information, 1,900. Major industries experiencing decreases were Construction, 1,700; Manufacturing, 1,200; and Mining & Logging, 100.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, 2019 when the county unemployment rates for October 2019 will be released.