The state’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from October’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.5 percent.
North Carolina’s November 2019 unemployment rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 7,892 over the month to 4,932,389 and increased 130,472 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 6,711 over the month to 197,456 and increased 12,077 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 2,300 to 4,592,000 in November. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Other Services, 900; Construction, 700; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 600; Information, 500; Government, 500; Manufacturing, 500; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 400; and Financial Activities, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Education & Health Services, 1,300; and Professional & Business Services, 600. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the month.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since November 2018
| Nov 2018 | Dec 2018 | Jan 2019 | Feb 2019 | Mar 2019 | Apr 2019 | May 2019 | June 2019 | July 2019 | August 2019 | Sep 2019 | Oct 2019 | Nov 2019 | |
| N.C. | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.8 |
| U.S. | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.5 |
* Please note: 2018 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since November 2018, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 91,300 with the Total Private sector increasing by 87,900 and Government increasing by 3,400. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Leisure & Hospitality Services at 23,600, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 19,900; Education & Health Services, 14,100; Professional & Business Services, 12,700; Financial Activities, 8,300; Other Services, 6,500; Government, 3,400; Information, 2,600; and Construction, 800. Major industries experiencing decreases were Manufacturing, 500; and Mining & Logging, 100.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, January 3, 2020 when the county unemployment rates for November 2019 will be released.