The state’s seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent.
North Carolina’s October 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.9 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 5,244 over the month to 4,810,957 and increased 63,798 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 5,911 over the month to 181,435 and decreased 39,887 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 27,900 to 4,538,900 in October. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services at 11,500, followed by Professional & Business Services, 7,000; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 4,500; Education & Health Services, 3,800; Financial Activities, 1,800; Other Services, 900; Construction, 600; and Manufacturing, 400. Major industries experiencing decreases were Government, 2,300; Information, 200; and Mining & Logging, 100.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since October 2017
| Oct2017 | Nov2017 | Dec2017 | Jan2018 | Feb2018 | Mar2018 | Apr2018 | May2018 | Jun2018 | Jul2018 | Aug2018 | Sep2018 | Oct2018 | |
| N.C. | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.6 |
| U.S. | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
* Please note: 2017 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since October 2017, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 103,500 with the Total Private sector growing by 99,700 and Government increasing by 3,800. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 29,400, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 19,700; Education & Health Services, 13,900; Construction, 10,600; Financial Activities, 8,000; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 8,000; Manufacturing, 7,400; Government, 3,800; Information, 2,600; and Other Services, 500. The only major industry experiencing a decrease was Mining & Logging, 400
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Thursday, November 29, 2018 when the county unemployment rates for October 2018 will be released.