The state’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from October’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.4 of a percentage point to 4.2 percent.
North Carolina’s November 2021 unemployment rate decreased 2.5 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 18,133 over the month to 4,843,510 and increased 130,872 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 10,177 over the month to 198,226 and decreased 124,884 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 3,500 to 4,554,800 in November. Major industries experiencing increases were Professional & Business Services, 5,000; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 2,400; Manufacturing, 1,700; Education & Health Services, 1,300; Other Services, 900; Information, 300; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 3,700; Construction, 1,900; Financial Activities, 1,300; and Government, 1,300.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since November 2020
| Nov 2020 | Dec 2020 | Jan 2021 | Feb 2021 | Mar 2021 | Apr 2021 | May 2021 | June 2021 | July 2021 | August 2021 | Sep 2021 | Oct 2021 | Nov 2021 | |
| N.C. | 6.4 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| U.S. | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.2 |
* Please note: 2020 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since November 2020, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 140,500 with the Total Private sector increasing by 137,100 and Government increasing by 3,400. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 43,200; Professional & Business Services, 34,400; Manufacturing, 21,300; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 18,200; Construction, 10,700; Information, 5,400; Other Services, 4,800; Government, 3,400; Financial Activities, 100; and Mining & Logging, 100. The only major industry experiencing a decrease over-the-year was Education & Health Services, 1,100.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Thursday, December 30, 2021 when the county unemployment rates for November 2021 will be released.