Raleigh, N.C. — The state’s seasonally adjusted April unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from March’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.4 percent.
North Carolina’s April 2017 unemployment rate decreased 0.3 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 3,721 over the month to 4,710,797 and increased 108,587 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 8,930 over the month to 234,768 and decreased 8,984 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, decreased 7,000 to 4,380,500 in April. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services at 2,000, followed by Education & Health Services, 1,300; Other Services, 1,000; Information, 200; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Government, 3,800; Construction, 3,600; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 2,000; Financial Activities, 1,400; Manufacturing, 700; and Leisure & Hospitality Services, 100.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since April 2016
| Apr 2016 | May 2016 | June 2016 | July 2016 | Aug 2016 | Sep 2016 | Oct 2016 | Nov 2016 | Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 | Feb 2017 | Mar 2017 | Apr 2017 | |
| N.C. | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.7 |
| U.S. | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
* Please note: 2016 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since April 2016, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 53,300 with the Total Private sector growing by 46,900 and Government increasing by 6,400. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 19,100, followed by Education & Health Services, 10,000; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 8,900; Government, 6,400; Other Services, 5,700; Financial Activities, 4,100; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 3,300; and Mining & Logging, 300. Major industries experiencing decreases were Information, 3,200; and Manufacturing, 1,300. Construction employment remained unchanged over the year.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, May 31, 2017 when the county unemployment rates for April 2017 will be released.