Jan. 23. North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in December, unchanged from November’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent.

However, the state’s unemployment rate decreased 0.3 of a percentage point from a year ago.

Year over year gains

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.

Nonfarm employment

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 & Hospitality Services, 2,500; Education & Health Services, 1,500; Professional & Business Services, 1,100; Government, 800; and Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 800. Major industries experiencing decreases were Other Services, 2,100; Information, 1,000; Financial Activities, 800; Construction, 600; and Mining & Logging, 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. Major industries experiencing increases were Education & Health Services, 35,000; Professional & Business Services, 23,100; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 21,000; Government, 17,000; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 11,300; Financial Activities, 2,700; and Mining & Logging, 200. Major industries experiencing decreases were Manufacturing, 4,000; Construction, 3,700; Other Services, 2,100; and Information, 1,100.