The state’s seasonally adjusted February 2023 unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from January’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.6 percent.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 7,942 over the month to 4,980,817 and increased 12,985 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 5,599 over the month to 188,194 and increased 10,988 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 8,900 to 4,884,600 in February. Major industries experiencing increases were Education & Health Services, 3,700; Government, 2,600; Manufacturing, 1,200; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 1,100; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 600; Financial Activities, 500; Professional & Business Services, 500; and Other Services, 400. Major industries experiencing decreases were Information, 1,300; Construction, 300; and Mining & Logging, 100.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since February 2022
| Area | Feb 2022 | Mar 2022 | Apr 2022 | May 2022 | June 2022 | July 2022 | August 2022 | Sep 2022 | Oct 2022 | Nov 2022 | Dec 2022 | Jan 2023 | Feb 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N.C. | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 |
| U.S. | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 |
* Please note: 2022 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since February 2022, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 144,100 with the Total Private sector increasing by 136,100 and Government increasing by 8,000. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 37,700; Education & Health Services, 28,900; Professional & Business Services, 27,600; Financial Activities, 10,200; Construction, 9,400; Other Services, 8,300; Government, 8,000; Manufacturing, 7,600; Information, 5,400; and Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,200. The only major industry experiencing a decrease over the year was Mining & Logging, 200.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, April 5, 2023 when the county unemployment rates for February 2023 will be released.