The state’s seasonally adjusted July unemployment rate was 4.1 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from June’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.9 percent.
North Carolina’s July 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.3 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 13,077 over the month to 4,800,661 and increased 70,096 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 6,170 over the month to 203,407 and decreased 13,678 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 10,400 to 4,528,900 in July. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services at 4,600, followed by Government, 4,500; Manufacturing, 1,700; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,600; Construction, 1,100; Information, 600; and Education & Health Services, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 2,000; Other Services, 1,600; and Financial Activities, 200. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the month.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since July 2017
| July2017 | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan2018 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | |
| N.C. | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| U.S. | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.9 |
* Please note: 2017 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since July 2017, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 106,900 with the Total Private sector growing by 101,200 and Government increasing by 5,700. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 25,800, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 20,800; Education & Health Services, 14,700; Construction, 11,000; Manufacturing, 8,600; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 8,200; Information, 6,300; Government, 5,700; Financial Activities, 4,500; Other Services, 1,100; and Mining & Logging, 200.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, August 29, 2018 when the county unemployment rates for July 2018 will be released