The state’s seasonally adjusted August unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, remaining unchanged from July’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged from July’s rate of 3.7 percent.
North Carolina’s August 2019 unemployment rate increased 0.5 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 14,493 over the month to 4,899,921 and increased 105,441 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 123 over the month to 212,218 and increased 25,594 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 2,300 to 4,571,600 in August. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services, 5,400; Financial Activities, 800; Construction, 600; Information, 500; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Other Services, 2,300; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 2,200; Manufacturing, 300; and Government, 300. Trade, Transportation & Utilities and Education & Health Services employment remained unchanged.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since August 2018
| Aug 2018 | Sep 2018 | Oct 2018 | Nov 2018 | Dec 2018 | Jan 2019 | Feb 2019 | Mar 2019 | Apr 2019 | May 2019 | June 2019 | July 2019 | August 2019 | |
| N.C. | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| U.S. | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
* Please note: 2018 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since August 2018, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 71,000 with the Total Private sector increasing by 67,700 and Government increasing by 3,300. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Trade, Transportation & Utilities at 23,500, followed by Professional & Business Services, 13,100; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 10,800; Education & Health Services, 10,400; Financial Activities, 8,700; Government, 3,300; Other Services, 3,100; and Information, 1,800. Major industries experiencing decreases were Manufacturing, 3,400; Mining & Logging, 200; and Construction, 100.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, October 2, 2019 when the county unemployment rates for August 2019 will be released.