Raleigh, N.C. — The state’s seasonally adjusted January unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, increasing 0.1 of a percentage point from December’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.8 percent.
North Carolina’s January 2017 unemployment rate was unchanged from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 11,256 over the month to 4,674,841 and increased 98,860 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 3,298 over the month to 260,150 and increased 1,780 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, decreased 6,600 to 4,376,100 in January. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Trade, Transportation & Utilities at 1,800, followed by Financial Activities, 1,700; Other Services, 1,500; Construction, 1,100; Education & Health Services, 900; and Mining & Logging, 200. Major industries experiencing decreases were Government, 5,200; Manufacturing, 4,700; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 1,900; Professional & Business Services, 1,200; and Information, 800.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since January 2016
| Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | Mar 2016 | Apr 2016 | May 2016 | June 2016 | July 2016 | Aug 2016 | Sep 2016 | Oct 2016 | Nov 2016 | Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 | |
| N.C. | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| U.S. | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 |
* Please note: 2016 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since January 2016, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 79,200 with the Total Private sector growing by 71,200 and Government increasing by 8,000. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 18,800, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 14,600; Education & Health Services, 11,200; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 10,400; Construction, 8,400; Government, 8,000; Financial Activities, 7,100; Other Services, 3,900; and Mining & Logging, 300. Major industries experiencing decreases were Manufacturing, 3,100; and Information, 400.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, March 17, 2017 when the county unemployment rates for January 2017 will be released.