The state’s seasonally adjusted January 2022 unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from December’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.0 percent.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 1.6 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 25,124 over the month to 4,809,793 and increased 179,320 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 9,594 over the month to 197,469 and decreased 70,319 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 4,100 to 4,660,200 in January. Major industries experiencing increases were Professional & Business Services, 3,400; Construction, 2,900; Financial Activities, 2,700; Education & Health Services, 1,100; and Information, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 2,300; Other Services, 2,000; Government, 1,200; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 500; and Manufacturing, 100. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since January 2021
| Jan 2021 | Feb 2021 | Mar 2021 | Apr 2021 | May 2021 | June 2021 | July 2021 | August 2021 | Sep 2021 | Oct 2021 | Nov 2021 | Dec 2021 | Jan 2022 | |
| N.C. | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| U.S. | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.0 |
* Please note: 2021 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since January 2021, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 166,500 with the Total Private sector increasing by 146,200 and Government increasing by 20,300. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 49,600; Professional & Business Services, 37,300; Government, 20,300; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 12,400; Financial Activities, 11,500; Education & Health Services, 10,400; Manufacturing, 7,300; Construction, 6,500; Other Services, 5,800; and Information, 5,400. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the year.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, March 18, 2022 when the county unemployment rates for January 2022 will be released.