Raleigh, N.C. — The state’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 5.0 percent, increasing 0.1 of a percentage point from October’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.3 of a percentage point to 4.6 percent.
North Carolina’s November 2016 unemployment rate was 0.6 of a percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of people employed increased 21,059 over the month to 4,637,823 and increased 128,899 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 6,234 over the month to 242,990 and decreased 25,327 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 9,000 to 4,353,200 in November. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services at 4,800, followed by Leisure & Hospitality Services, 3,600; Manufacturing, 2,000; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,600; Other Services, 1,100; Information, 800; Financial Activities, 800. Major industries experiencing decreases were Education & Health Services, 2,700; Government, 1,800; and Construction, 1,200. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the month.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since November 2015
| Nov 2015 | Dec 2015 | Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | Mar 2016 | Apr 2016 | May 2016 | June 2016 | June 2016 | Aug 2016 | Sep 2016 | Oct 2016 | Nov 2016 | |
| N.C. | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 5.0 |
| U.S. | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.6 |
* Please note: 2015 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since November 2015, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 81,800 with the Total Private sector growing by 75,500 and Government increasing by 6,300. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 25,800, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 18,300; Construction, 10,600; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 7,300; Government, 6,300; Education & Health Services, 5,800; Other Services, 5,300; Manufacturing, 3,600; and Financial Activities, 800. The only major industry experiencing a decrease was Information, 2,000. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the year.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Thursday, December 29, 2016 when the county unemployment rates for November 2016 will be released.