Raleigh, N.C. — The state’s seasonally adjusted March unemployment rate was 4.0 percent, increasing 0.1 of a percentage point from February’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent.
North Carolina’s March 2019 unemployment rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 8,543 over the month to 4,826,260 and increased 54,964 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 5,136 over the month to 199,899 and decreased 5,031 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 6,200 to 4,540,800 in March. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Education & Health Services at 2,700, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 2,600; Information, 800; Government, 700; Other Services, 700; and Professional & Business Services, 500. Major industries experiencing decreases were Manufacturing, 1,200; Financial Activities, 200; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 200; Construction, 100; and Mining & Logging, 100.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since March 2018
| Mar 2018 | Apr 2018 | May 2018 | June 2018 | July 2018 | Aug 2018 | Sep 2018 | Oct 2018 | Nov 2018 | Dec 2018 | Jan 2019 | Feb 2019 | Mar 2019 | |
| N.C. | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| U.S. | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 |
* Please note: 2018 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since March 2018, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 62,900 with the Total Private sector growing by 64,200 and Government decreasing by 1,300. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Leisure & Hospitality Services, 17,800, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 13,300; Professional & Business Services, 12,300; Education & Health Services, 9,500; Construction, 4,700; Financial Activities, 4,000; Other Services, 1,600; Manufacturing, 1,000; and Information, 400. Major industries experiencing decreases were Government, 1,300; and Mining & Logging, 400.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1, 2019 when the county unemployment rates for March 2019 will be released.