The state’s seasonally adjusted February 2023 unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from January’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.6 percent.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce reported the state’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 7,942 over the month to 4,980,817 and increased 12,985 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 5,599 over the month to 188,194 and increased 10,988 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 8,900 to 4,884,600 in February, out of a labor force that totaled 5,169,011, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Major industries experiencing increases were Education & Health Services, 3,700; Government, 2,600; Manufacturing, 1,200; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 1,100; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 600; Financial Activities, 500; Professional & Business Services, 500; and Other Services, 400.
Major industries experiencing decreases were Information, 1,300; Construction, 300; and Mining & Logging, 100.
Since February 2022, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 144,100 with the Total Private sector increasing by 136,100 and Government increasing by 8,000.
Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 37,700; Education & Health Services, 28,900; Professional & Business Services, 27,600; Financial Activities, 10,200; Construction, 9,400; Other Services, 8,300; Government, 8,000; Manufacturing, 7,600; Information, 5,400; and Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,200.
The only major industry experiencing a decrease over the year was Mining & Logging, 200.