The state’s seasonally adjusted December unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from November’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.3 of a percentage point to 3.9 percent.
North Carolina’s December 2021 unemployment rate decreased 2.4 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 25,884 over the month to 4,869,342 and increased 138,178 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 9,881 over the month to 188,391 and decreased 120,492 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 20,000 to 4,579,300 in December. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 7,100; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 5,500; Education & Health Services, 4,200; Professional & Business Services, 2,000; Manufacturing, 1,500; Construction, 800; and Information, 500. Major industries experiencing decreases were Government, 700; Other Services, 600; and Financial Activities, 300. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since December 2020
| Dec 2020 | Jan 2021 | Feb 2021 | Mar 2021 | Apr 2021 | May 2021 | June 2021 | July 2021 | August 2021 | Sep 2021 | Oct 2021 | Nov 2021 | Dec 2021 | |
| N.C. | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.7 |
| U.S. | 6.7 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.9 |
* Please note: 2020 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since December 2020, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 143,500 with the Total Private sector increasing by 141,400 and Government increasing by 2,100. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 49,100; Professional & Business Services, 27,700; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 18,500; Manufacturing, 16,600; Construction, 13,000; Education & Health Services, 6,700; Information, 5,100; Other Services, 4,600; Government, 2,100; and Mining & Logging, 100. Financial Activities employment remained unchanged over the year.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, February 2, 2022 when the county unemployment rates for December 2021 will be released.