Raleigh, N.C. — The state’s seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, increasing 0.2 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.9 percent.
North Carolina’s October 2016 unemployment rate was 0.7 of a percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of people employed increased 20,166 over the month to 4,616,686 and increased 113,006 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 10,095 over the month to 237,205 and decreased 31,582 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 5,700 to 4,344,400 in October. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services at 5,500, followed by Leisure & Hospitality Services, 3,600; Construction, 1,900; Financial Activities, 400; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Other Services, 2,200; Education & Health Services, 1,200; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 900; Information, 800; Government, 600; and Manufacturing, 100.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since October 2015
| Oct 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 | |
| N.C. | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.9 |
| U.S. | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 |
* Please note: 2015 Numbers Have Been Annually Revised *
Since October 2015, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 84,700 with the Total Private sector growing by 76,800 and Government increasing by 7,900. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 27,400, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 19,600; Education & Health Services, 9,600; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 8,900; Construction, 8,300; Government, 7,900; Other Services, 3,400; Manufacturing, 1,200; and Financial Activities, 1,000. The only major industry experiencing a decrease was Information, 2,600. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the year.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, November 30, 2016 when the county unemployment rates for October 2016 will be released.