North Carolina’s leisure and hospitality industry led all sectors in the number of job gains between March 2022 and 2023, as the state added a total of 132,900 nonfarm jobs over the same period.
The state’s unemployment rate dropped by 0.1 percent in March to 3.5 percent, matching the national rate, and an increase of 0.2 percent from a year ago.
According to a report from the N.C. Department of Commerce, leisure and hospitality services picked up 36,900 out of the total 128,400 private sector job gained over the 12 month period.
Increases were also reported in nearly all other sectors: Education & Health Services, 27,700; Professional & Business Services, 24,700; Other Services, 9,400; Construction, 8,600; Financial Activities, 7,500; Manufacturing, 5,800; Information, 4,600; Government, 4,500; and Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 3,200. Mining & Logging remained unchanged over the year.
Since March 2022, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 132,900 with the Total Private sector increasing by 128,400 and Government increasing by 4,500. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 36,900; Education & Health Services, 27,700; Professional & Business Services, 24,700; Other Services, 9,400; Construction, 8,600; Financial Activities, 7,500; Manufacturing, 5,800; Information, 4,600; Government, 4,500; and Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 3,200. Mining & Logging remained unchanged over the year.
The number of people employed in North Carolina increased 15,686 over the month to 4,996,448, an increase of 15,354 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 4,983 over the month to 183,118 and increased 10,914 over the year.
