The North Carolina unemployment rate slightly increased in March although the state’s economy added jobs during the month, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted March unemployment rate was 4.0 percent, increasing 0.1 of a percentage point from February. The national rate remained at 3.8 percent.
North Carolina’s March 2019 unemployment rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 8,543 over the month to 4,826,260 and increased 54,964 over the year.
The number of people unemployed increased 5,136 over the month to 199,899 and decreased 5,031 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm industry employment increased 6,200 to 4,540,800 in March. Education lead all industries with the largest amount of jobs increased over-the-month:
- Education & Health Services: 2,700
- Trade, Transportation & Utilities: 2,600
- Information: 800
- Government: 700
- Other Services: 700
- Professional & Business Services: 500.
On the other hand, manufacturing led North Carolina industries with the largest over-the-month decrease in number of jobs, far ahead of the others:
- Manufacturing: 1,200
- Financial Activities: 200
- Leisure & Hospitality Services: 200
- Construction: 100
- Mining & Logging: 100
In the last year, major industries experiencing decreases were government with 1,300 jobs lost, and mining and logging, with 400 jobs lost.
