RALEIGH — The state’s seasonally adjusted August unemployment rate was 6.5 percent, decreasing
2.0 percentage points from July’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 1.8 percentage points to 8.4 percent.
North Carolina’s August 2020 unemployment rate increased 2.7 percentage points from a year ago. The
number of people employed increased 28,419 over the month to 4,510,574 and decreased 387,558 over
the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 100,105 over the month to 315,347
and increased 120,255 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Non farm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly
establishment survey, increased 17,000 to 4,263,100 in August. Major industries experiencing increases
were Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 7,300; Professional & Business Services, 4,400; Government,
4,300; Education & Health Services, 2,200; Financial Activities, 1,300; Other Services, 1,000;
Manufacturing, 500; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were
Construction, 1,800; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 1,300, and Information, 1,000.
Since August 2019, Total Non farm jobs decreased 320,100 with the Total Private sector decreasing by
285,000 and Government decreasing by 35,100. No major industry experienced an over-the-year
increase. Major industries experiencing decreases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 129,000;
Education & Health Services, 42,400; Manufacturing, 39,800; Government, 35,100; Professional &
Business Services, 27,000; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 23,400; Construction, 11,600; Information,
6,200; Other Services, 4,400; Financial Activities, 900; and Mining & Logging, 300.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2020 when the county
unemployment rates for August 2020 will be released.
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