The state’s seasonally adjusted January unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, remaining unchanged from December’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.6 percent.
North Carolina’s January 2020 unemployment rate decreased 0.4 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 8,635 over the month to 4,925,813 and increased 84,467 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 1,242 over the month to 184,881 and decreased 18,230 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 15,000 to 4,608,900 in January. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 6,800; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 6,800; Education & Health Services, 2,800; Professional & Business Services, 1,100; Information, 1,000; Government, 500; and Other Services, 500. Major industries experiencing decreases were Financial Activities, 2,200; Manufacturing, 1,200; and Construction, 1,100. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the month.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since January 2019
| Jan 2019 | Feb 2019 | Mar 2019 | Apr 2019 | May 2019 | June 2019 | July 2019 | August 2019 | Sep 2019 | Oct 2019 | Nov 2019 | Dec 2019 | Jan 2019 | |
| N.C. | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| U.S. | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.6 |
* Please note: 2019 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since January 2019, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 50,100 with the Total Private sector increasing by 44,600 and Government increasing by 5,500. The largest over-the-year increases among major industries were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 22,300; Financial Activities, 10,300; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 8,100; Government, 5,500; Other Services, 5,000; Information, 3,200; and Education & Health Services, 2,300. Major industries experiencing decreases were Professional & Business Services, 4,200; Construction, 1,400; Manufacturing, 800; and Mining & Logging, 200.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2020 when the county unemployment rates for January 2020 will be released.