The state’s seasonally adjusted April 2023 unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from March’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.4 percent.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 16,200 over the month to 5,012,688 and increased 24,183 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 4,221 over the month to 178,853 and increased 6,517 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 3,600 to 4,891,300 in April. Major industries experiencing increases were Education & Health Services, 3,000; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 3,000; Financial Activities, 1,200; Other Services, 700; and Construction, 300. Major industries experiencing decreases were Professional & Business Services, 1,800; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 1,400; Manufacturing, 1,100; Information, 200; and Government, 100. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since April 2022
| Area | Apr 2022 | May 2022 | June 2022 | July 2022 | August 2022 | Sep 2022 | Oct 2022 | Nov 2022 | Dec 2022 | Jan 2023 | Feb 2023 | Mar 2023 | Apr 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N.C. | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
| U.S. | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
* Please note: 2022 numbers have undergone annual revision *
Since April 2022, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 117,100 with the Total Private sector increasing by 110,600 and Government increasing by 6,500. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 29,200; Education & Health Services, 27,700; Professional & Business Services, 17,100; Other Services, 9,400; Construction, 8,000; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 6,700; Government, 6,500; Financial Activities, 6,100; Manufacturing, 3,400; and Information, 3,100. The only major industry experiencing a decrease over the year was Mining & Logging, 100.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, May 31, 2023 when the county unemployment rates for April 2023 will be released.