The state’s seasonally adjusted August unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from July’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point to 5.2 percent.
North Carolina’s August 2021 unemployment rate decreased 2.5 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 17,609 over the month to 4,794,967 and increased 215,224 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 5,848 over the month to 216,607 and decreased 114,951 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, decreased 13,200 to 4,517,700 in August. Major industries experiencing increases were Financial Activities, 900; and Information, 500. Major industries experiencing decreases were Government, 6,700; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 4,800; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 2,300; Construction, 400; Education & Health Services, 200; Professional & Business Services, 100; and Other Services, 100. Manufacturing and Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since August 2020
| August 2020 | Sep 2020 | Oct 2020 | Nov 2020 | Dec 2020 | Jan 2021 | Feb 2021 | Mar 2021 | Apr 2021 | May 2021 | June 2021 | July 2021 | August 2021 | |
| N.C. | 6.8 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| U.S. | 8.4 | 7.8 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.4 | 5.2 |
* Please note: 2020 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since August 2020, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 161,400 with the Total Private sector increasing by 175,900 and Government decreasing by 14,500. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 58,200; Professional & Business Services, 39,800; Manufacturing, 23,200; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 23,000; Construction, 14,300; Information, 6,500; Financial Activities, 4,900; Education & Health Services, 2,900; Other Services, 2,900; and Mining & Logging, 200. The only major industry experiencing a decrease over the year was Government, 14,500.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, September 29, 2021 when the county unemployment rates for August 2021 will be released.