The state’s seasonally adjusted May 2022 unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, remaining unchanged from April’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 1.6 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 33,419 over the month to 4,916,580 and increased 218,327 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 2,361 over the month to 170,970 and decreased 76,321 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 7,000 to 4,728,200 in May. Major industries experiencing increases were Manufacturing, 3,700; Financial Activities, 2,200; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 1,700; Education & Health Services, 1,300; Construction, 1,200; Professional & Business Services, 1,200; Other Services, 1,000; and Information, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 4,300; and Government, 1,100. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since May 2021
Area | May 2021 | June 2021 | July 2021 | August 2021 | Sept 2021 | Oct 2021 | Nov 2021 | Dec 2021 | Jan 2022 | Feb 2022 | Mar 2022 | Apr 2022 | May 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N.C. | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
U.S. | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
* Please note: 2021 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since May 2021, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 165,300 with the Total Private sector increasing by 154,600 and Government increasing by 10,700. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 43,500; Professional & Business Services, 43,300; Manufacturing, 15,600; Financial Activities, 14,500; Education & Health Services, 13,200; Government, 10,700; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 9,600; Other Services, 7,500; Information, 5,400; and Construction, 2,200. The only major industry experiencing an over-the-year decrease was Mining & Logging, 200.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, June 29, 2022 when the county unemployment rates for May 2022 will be released.