North Carolina’s December 2018 unemployment rate remained unchanged from November while the national unemployment rate increased.

North Carolina’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.6 percent while the national unemployment rate grew by 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.9 percent. North Carolina’s December 2018 rate decreased 0.9 of a percentage point from a year ago.

The employment report released Friday by the NC Department of Commerce also showed that since December 2017, total nonfarm jobs gained 87,200 with the total private sector growing by 82,700.

North Carolina’s economy saw big gains in manufacturing, leisure and hospitality services and education and health services.

Employment in the government continued growing in December, adding 500 jobs to the overall increase of 4,500 over the year, up from the 300 government jobs created in November.

Although jobs were created in industries such as manufacturing and education and health services, employment decreased in the professional and business services, information, trade and financial activities industries.

Total nonfarm industry employment grew 1,200 in December, underperforming November’s increase of 3,400 and October’s increase of 27,900.

The total number of people employed increased 4,299 over the month to 4,818,454 and increased 74,190 over the year.

Some of the top projects bringing job growth to North Carolina include two projects with Amazon.com Inc. totaling 3,000 jobs, AvidXchange Inc.’s expansion in Mecklenburg County that will create 1,229 jobs, and Publix Supermarkets Inc.’s creation of 1,000 new jobs in Guildford County.

The numbers can be found here.