
RALEIGH — The state’s seasonally adjusted August unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from July’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.9 percent.
North Carolina’s August 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.5 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 5,052 over the month to 4,805,678 and increased 67,072 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 6,492 over the month to 196,936 and decreased 21,263 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 1,600 to 4,527,600 in August. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services at 4,900, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,800; Construction, 1,000; Financial Activities, 300; and Other Services, 200. Major industries experiencing decreases were Education & Health Services, 2,200; Government, 1,300; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 1,300; Manufacturing, 1,100; Information, 600; and Mining & Logging, 100.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since August 2017
Aug 2017
Sep 2017
Oct 2017
Nov 2017
Dec 2017
Jan 2018
Feb 2018
Mar 2018
Apr 2018
May 2018
Jun 2018
Jul 2018
Aug 2018
N.C. 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.1 3.9 U.S. 4.4 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 3.9 3.8 4.0 3.9 3.9
Please note: 2017 numbers have been annually revised
Since August 2017, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 102,800 with the Total Private sector growing by 98,000 and Government increasing by 4,800. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 30,600, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 21,400; Construction, 11,300; Education & Health Services, 11,300; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 6,300; Manufacturing, 6,300; Government, 4,800; Information, 4,800; Financial Activities, 4,100; Other Services, 1,700; and Mining & Logging, 200.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, October 3, 2018 when the county unemployment rates for August 2018 will be released.
This information can be accessed on the Commerce website at http://www.nccommerce.com/lead