RALEIGH — The state’s seasonally adjusted February unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, remaining
unchanged from January’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.5
percent.
North Carolina’s February 2020 unemployment rate decreased 0.5 of a percentage point from a year
ago. The number of people employed increased 6,250 over the month to 4,931,991 and increased
84,031 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 2,293 over the month to 182,598
and decreased 22,068 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly
establishment survey, increased 5,900 to 4,614,600 in February. The major industries with the largest
over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services, 2,100; Leisure & Hospitality Services,
1,900;Government, 1,700; Financial Activities, 1,500; Construction, 400; and Information, 200. Major
industries experiencing decreases were Manufacturing, 600; Other Services, 600; Education & Health
Services, 500; and Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 200.
Since February 2019, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 58,600 with the Total Private sector increasing by
50,500 and Government increasing by 8,100. The largest over-the-year increases among major
industries were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 23,800; Financial Activities, 11,300; Government, 8,100;
Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 6,600; Other Services, 4,100; Information, 2,800; Education & Health
Services, 1,500; Manufacturing, 500; and Construction, 400. The only major industry experiencing a
decrease was Professional & Business Services, 500. Mining & Logging employment remained
unchanged over the year.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, 2020 when the county
unemployment rates for February 2020 will be released.
About Author
