Raleigh, N.C. — The state’s seasonally adjusted December unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, increasing 0.1 of a percentage point from November’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.7 percent.
North Carolina’s December 2016 unemployment rate was 0.5 of a percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of people employed increased 30,058 over the month to 4,667,739 and increased 154,386 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 8,718 over the month to 251,607 and decreased 16,825 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 6,800 to 4,360,200 in December. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Education & Health Services at 3,000, followed by Leisure & Hospitality Services, 2,300; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 2,300; Financial Activities, 1,500; Manufacturing, 200; and Information, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Professional & Business Services, 900; Government, 800; Other Services, 700; and Construction, 200. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the month.
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