03/28/2024
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RALEIGH — The state’s seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from April’s revised rate.  The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.3 percent.

North Carolina’s May 2017 unemployment rate decreased 0.5 of a percentage point from a year ago.  The number of people employed decreased 5,265 over the month to 4,705,488 and increased 97,270 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 11,546 over the month to 222,989 and decreased 17,161 over the year.

Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 18,800 to 4,397,900 in May.  The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were Professional & Business Services at 9,600, followed by Construction, 3,300; Manufacturing, 1,900; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,500; Financial Activities, 1,300; Other Services, 1,100; Education & Health Services, 600; Information, 100; and Leisure & Hospitality Services, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Government, 500; and Mining & Logging, 200.

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since May 2016 are as follows:

NC      US

May 2016  5.0      4.7

Jun 2016   4.9      4.9

Jul 2016    4.9     4.9

Aug 2016   5.0     4.9

Sep 2016   5.1     4.9

Oct 2016   5.1     4.8

Nov 2016   5.2     4.6

Dec 2016   5.2     4.7

Jan 2017   5.3     4.8

Feb 2017   5.1     4.7

Mar 2017   4.9     4.5

Apr 2017   4.7     4.4

May 2017  4.5     4.3

Please note: 2016 numbers have been annually revised

Since May 2016, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 69,200 with the Total Private sector growing by 64,500 and Government increasing by 4,700. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was Professional & Business Services at 30,100, followed by Education & Health Services, 10,000; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 7,800; Other Services, 6,800; Financial Activities, 5,600; Government, 4,700;      Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 4,100; Construction, 3,900; Manufacturing, 600; and Mining & Logging, 100.  The only major industry experiencing a decrease was Information at 4,500.

The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, June 28, 2017 when the county unemployment rates for May 2017 will be released.

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