Raleigh, N.C. — The state’s seasonally adjusted December unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, increasing 0.2 of a percentage point from November’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent.
North Carolina’s December 2017 unemployment rate decreased 0.7 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 12,081 over the month to 4,727,107 and increased 63,522 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 8,755 over the month to 222,116 and decreased 34,736 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 12,500 to 4,457,700 in December. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services at 3,600, followed by Financial Activities, 2,800; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 2,600; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,600; Construction, 1,300; Other Services, 900; and Manufacturing, 700. Major industries experiencing decreases were Education & Health Services, 700; and Government, 300. Information and Mining & Logging industry employment remained unchanged over the month.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since December 2016
| Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 | Feb 2017 | Mar 2017 | Apr 2017 | May 2017 | June 2017 | July 2017 | Aug 2017 | Sep 2017 | Oct 2017 | Nov 2017 | Dec 2017 | |
| N.C. | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| U.S. | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
* Please note: 2016 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since December 2016, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 75,000 with the Total Private sector growing by 67,700 and Government increasing by 7,300. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 36,200, followed by Education & Health Services, 16,400; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 8,100; Government, 7,300; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 7,200; Other Services, 3,500; Financial Activities, 1,700; Manufacturing, 700; and Mining & Logging, 200. Major industries experiencing decreases were Information, 4,200; and Construction, 2,100.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Thursday, February 1, 2018 when the county unemployment rates for December 2017 will be released. The state unemployment rate for January 2018 will be released Monday, March 12, 2018.