IGH —The state’s seasonally adjusted August unemployment rate was 4.6 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from July’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 4.9 percent.
North Carolina’s August 2016 unemployment rate was 1.1 percentage points lower than a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 12,616 over the month to 4,588,792 and increased 96,272 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 3,808 over the month to 221,746, and decreased 49,242 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, decreased 14,100 to 4,327,200 in August. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Education & Health Services at 1,900, followed by Manufacturing, 1,400; and Other Services, 200. Major industries experiencing decreases were Government, 11,000; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 2,300; Financial Activities, 1,600; Professional & Business Services, 1,300; Information, 1,000; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 300; and Construction, 100. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the month.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since August 2015
| Aug 2015 | Sep 2015 | Oct 2015 | Nov 2015 | Dec 2015 | Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | Mar 2016 | Apr 2016 | May 2016 | June 2016 | June 2016 | Aug 2016 | |
| N.C. | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| U.S. | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
* Please note: 2015 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since August 2015, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 74,800 with the Total Private sector growing by 70,200 and Government increasing by 4,600. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 25,100, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 20,400; Education & Health Services, 11,600; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 7,100; Construction, 5,900; Government, 4,600; and Other Services, 4,100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Financial Activities, 2,400; Information, 1,400; and Manufacturing, 200. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the year.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, 2016 when the county unemployment rates for August 2016 will be released.