The state’s seasonally adjusted March unemployment rate was 4.4 percent, increasing 0.8 of a percentage point from February’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.9 of a percentage point to 4.4 percent.
North Carolina’s March 2020 unemployment rate increased 0.3 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 180,275 over the month to 4,751,781 and decreased 100,381 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 35,020 over the month to 217,626 and increased 12,282 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, decreased 22,600 to 4,589,400 in March. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Financial Activities, 1,000; Construction, 800; Other Services, 800; Government, 600; and Information, 600. Major industries experiencing decreases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 13,600; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 4,100; Professional & Business Services, 3,600; Education & Health Services, 2,800; and Manufacturing, 2,300. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the month.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since March 2019
| Mar 2019 | Apr 2019 | May 2019 | June 2019 | July 2019 | August 2019 | Sep 2019 | Oct 2019 | Nov 2019 | Dec 2019 | Jan 2020 | Feb 2020 | Mar 2020 | |
| N.C. | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 4.4 |
| U.S. | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 4.4 |
* Please note: 2019 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since March 2019, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 30,200 with the Total Private sector increasing by 21,800 and Government increasing by 8,400. The largest over-the-year increases among major industries were Financial Activities, 12,400; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 9,200; Government, 8,400; Other Services, 4,200; Information, 3,400; and Construction, 1,900. Major industries experiencing decreases were Professional & Business Services, 4,000; Education & Health Services, 2,400; Manufacturing, 2,200; and Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 700. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the year.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2020 when the county unemployment rates for March 2020 will be released.
NOTE TO EDITORS: The statistics reported in this release are based on activity prior to March 15 and thus do not reflect the full impact of recent COVID-19 related shutdowns in North Carolina.