The state’s seasonally adjusted March unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, remaining unchanged from February’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent.
North Carolina’s March 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 3,495 over the month to 4,755,447 and increased 69,723 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 131 over the month to 222,519 and decreased 7,754 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 4,100 to 4,472,000 in March. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Education & Health Services at 2,200, followed by Leisure & Hospitality Services, 1,500; Construction, 1,200; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,100; Information, 700; Other Services, 200; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Professional & Business Services, 2,000; Manufacturing, 500; Financial Activities, 300; and Government, 100.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since March 2017
| Mar2017 | Apr2017 | May2017 | June2017 | July2017 | Aug2017 | Sep2017 | Oct2017 | Nov2017 | Dec2017 | Jan2018 | Feb2018 | Mar2018 | |
| N.C. | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| U.S. | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
* Please note: 2017 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since March 2017, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 73,300 with the Total Private sector growing by 67,900 and Government increasing by 5,400. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 15,300, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 14,500; Education & Health Services, 8,900; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 8,700; Construction, 6,600; Financial Activities, 6,400; Government, 5,400; Information, 3,500; Manufacturing, 3,500; Other Services, 400; and Mining & Logging, 100.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, May 2, 2018 when the county unemployment rates for March 2018 will be released.