The state’s seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from April’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.3 of a percentage point to 5.8 percent.
North Carolina’s May 2021 unemployment rate decreased 8.7 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 4,550 over the month to 4,757,351 and increased 605,656 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 11,691 over the month to 239,523 and decreased 407,991 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 1,400 to 4,461,700 in May. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 7,600; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 2,100; Financial Activities, 300; Information, 300; and Manufacturing, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Government, 3,100; Other Services, 2,000; Construction, 1,600; Professional & Business Services, 1,200; and Education & Health Services, 1,100. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since May 2020
| May 2020 | June 2020 | July 2020 | August 2020 | Sep 2020 | Oct 2020 | Nov 2020 | Dec 2020 | Jan 2021 | Feb 2021 | Mar 2021 | Apr 2021 | May 2021 | |
| N.C. | 13.5 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| U.S. | 13.3 | 11.1 | 10.2 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 5.8 |
* Please note: 2020 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since May 2020, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 337,300 with the Total Private sector increasing by 340,800 and Government decreasing by 3,500. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 135,600; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 64,200; Professional & Business Services, 49,200; Manufacturing, 30,000; Education & Health Services, 22,400; Other Services, 20,400; Construction, 9,100; Information, 5,300; and Financial Activities, 4,600. The only major industry experiencing a decrease was Government, 3,500. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the year.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, June 30, 2021 when the county unemployment rates for May 2021 will be released.