The state’s seasonally adjusted March 2022 unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from February’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.6 percent.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 1.7 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 25,123 over the month to 4,853,239 and increased 191,889 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 9,880 over the month to 177,303 and decreased 80,734 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 18,100 to 4,712,800 in March. Major industries experiencing increases were Construction, 4,200; Education & Health Services, 4,000; Manufacturing, 3,200; Government, 2,200; Professional & Business Services, 2,000; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 1,100; Other Services, 1,100; Information, 1,000; and Financial Activities, 700. Major industries experiencing decreases were Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,300; and Mining & Logging, 100.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since March 2021
| Mar 2021 | Apr 2021 | May 2021 | June 2021 | July 2021 | August 2021 | Sep 2021 | Oct 2021 | Nov 2021 | Dec 2021 | Jan 2022 | Feb 2022 | Mar 2022 | |
| N.C. | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| U.S. | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.6 |
* Please note: 2021 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since March 2021, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 185,300 with the Total Private sector increasing by 170,200 and Government increasing by 15,100. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 54,500; Professional & Business Services, 41,400; Education & Health Services, 16,500; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 16,300; Government, 15,100; Financial Activities, 12,000; Manufacturing, 10,500; Information, 6,600; Construction, 6,500; and Other Services, 6,200. The only major industry experiencing a decrease over the year was Mining & Logging, 300.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, 2022 when the county unemployment rates for March 2022 will be released.