— The state's seasonally adjusted April unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from March's revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 5.0 percent.
North Carolina's April 2016 unemployment rate was 0.4 of a percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of people employed increased 20,245 over the month to 4,611,868 and increased 141,785 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 1,357 over the month to 264,491, and decreased 10,571 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 1,000 to 4,311,500 in April. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services at 4,100, followed by Information, 1,300; Education & Health Services, 300; Construction, 200; and Other Services, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Manufacturing, 2,700; Government, 2,100; Financial Activities, 100; and Leisure & Hospitality Services, 100. Mining & Logging and Trade, Transportation & Utilities employment remained unchanged over the month.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since April 2015
| Apr 2015 | May 2015 | Jun 2015 | Jul 2015 | Aug 2015 | Sep 2015 | Oct 2015 | Nov 2015 | Dec 2015 | Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | Mar 2016 | Apr 2016 | |
| N.C. | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 |
| U.S. | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
* Please note: 2015 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since April 2015, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 95,600 with the Total Private sector growing by 94,900 and Government increasing by 700. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 29,700, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 25,100; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 17,500; Construction, 10,000; Education & Health Services, 6,500; Other Services, 5,700; Financial Activities, 3,100; Government, 700; and Information, 300. Major industries experiencing decreases were Manufacturing, 2,800; and Mining & Logging, 200.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1, 2016 when the county unemployment rates for April 2016 will be released.