The state’s seasonally adjusted September unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from August’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.7 percent.
North Carolina’s September 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.6 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 418 over the month to 4,805,218 and increased 60,636 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 9,530 over the month to 187,386 and decreased 32,493 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, decreased 21,900 to 4,504,700 in September. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Financial Activities at 1,400, followed by Information, 200. Major industries experiencing decreases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 14,600; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,900; Manufacturing, 1,700; Other Services, 1,700; Professional & Business Services, 1,700; Government, 900; Education & Health Services, 800; Construction, 100; and Mining & Logging, 100.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since September 2017
| Sep2017 | Oct2017 | Nov2017 | Dec2017 | Jan2017 | Feb2018 | Mar2018 | Apr2018 | May2018 | June2018 | July2018 | Aug2018 | Sept2018 | |
| N.C. | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| U.S. | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.7 |
* Please note: 2017 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since September 2017, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 82,300 with the Total Private sector growing by 77,800 and Government increasing by 4,500. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 30,300, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 18,700; Construction, 10,700; Education & Health Services, 10,400; Financial Activities, 6,100; Manufacturing, 4,600; Government, 4,500; Information, 4,300; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 5,900; and Other Services, 1,500.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6, 2018 when the county unemployment rates for September 2018 will be released.