—The state’s seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, decreasing 0.3 of a percentage point from April’s revised rate. The national rate declined 0.3 of a percentage point to 4.7 percent.
North Carolina’s May 2016 unemployment rate was 0.7 of a percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of people employed increased 6,870 over the month to 4,618,342 and increased 142,023 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 13,589 over the month to 250,544, and decreased 25,278 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, decreased 1,600 to 4,307,700 in May. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Manufacturing at 2,700, followed by Education & Health Services, 2,600; Government, 2,200; Other Services, 800; Information, 400; Mining & Logging, 200; and Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Professional & Business Services, 3,500; Construction, 2,700; Financial Activities, 2,500; and Leisure & Hospitality Services, 1,900.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since May 2015
| May 2015 | Jun 2015 | Jul 2015 | Aug 2015 | Sep 2015 | Oct 2015 | Nov 2015 | Dec 2015 | Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | Mar 2016 | Apr 2016 | May 2016 | |
| N.C. | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| U.S. | 5.5 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.7 |
* Please note: 2015 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since May 2015, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 78,100 with the Total Private sector growing by 75,700 and Government increasing by 2,400. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Trade, Transportation & Utilities at 23,700, followed by Professional & Business Services, 23,200; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 12,900; Education & Health Services, 7,300; Construction, 6,400; Other Services, 5,100; Government, 2,400; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Manufacturing, 2,000; Information, 700; and Financial Activities, 300.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, June 29, 2016 when the county unemployment rates for May 2016 will be released.