North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December was 3.5%, unchanged from November’s revised rate, but a decrease of 0.3 of a percentage point from a year ago.
The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7%. Those figures were released Tuesday from the N.C. Department of Commerce.
The number of people employed decreased 1,622 over the month to 5,093,994 and increased 131,769 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 3,085 over the month to 185,281 and decreased 12,762 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 2,100 to 4,951,900 in December.
Major industries experiencing increases were leisure and hospitality services, 2,500; education and health services, 1,500; professional and business services, 1,100; government, 800; and trade, transportation and utilities with 800.
Major industries experiencing decreases were other services, 2,100; information, 1,000; financial activities, 800; construction, 600; and mining and logging with 100. Manufacturing employment remained unchanged.
Since December 2022, total nonfarm jobs increased 99,400 with the total private sector increasing by 82,400 and government increasing by 17,000.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Jan. 31, 2024, when the county unemployment rates for December 2023 will be released.