— The state’s seasonally adjusted February unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from January’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 4.9 percent.
North Carolina’s February 2016 unemployment rate was 0.2 of a percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of people employed increased 25,687 over the month to 4,557,152 and increased 103,145 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 164 over the month to 266,243, and decreased 3,998 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, decreased 900 to 4,295,200 in February. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services at 4,200, followed by Government, 500; Other Services, 200; and Manufacturing, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Education & Health Services, 1,800; Construction, 1,400; Financial Activities, 1,200; Information, 700; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 500; and Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 300. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the month.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since February 2015
| Feb 2015 | Mar 2015 | Apr 2015 | May 2015 | Jun 2015 | Jul 2015 | Aug 2015 | Sep 2015 | Oct 2015 | Nov 2015 | Dec 2015 | Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | |
| N.C. | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 |
| U.S. | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
* Please note: 2015 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since February 2015, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 86,700 with the Total Private sector growing by 81,700 and Government increasing by 5,000. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 23,700, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 20,000; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 15,300; Construction, 9,100; Other Services, 5,200; Government, 5,000; Financial Activities, 3,600; Education & Health Services, 3,100; and Manufacturing, 1,800. Information employment declined by 100 over the year and Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the year.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6, 2016 when the county unemployment rates for February 2016 will be released