The unemployment rate in North Carolina for February 2025 remained stable at 3.7 percent, consistent with January’s revised rate. This contrasts with the national unemployment rate, which increased by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.
Over the past year, North Carolina’s unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points. The state saw an increase in employment, with 3,448 additional people employed, bringing the total to 5,098,782. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 1,813 over the month to 195,627, although it increased by 9,410 over the year.
Total Nonfarm employment saw an increase of 10,200 in February, reaching 5,063,200. Industries with employment gains included Trade, Transportation & Utilities (2,800), Education & Health Services (2,500), Construction (1,600), Other Services (1,200), Leisure & Hospitality Services (1,100), Professional & Business Services (900), Government (700), Financial Activities (600), and Mining & Logging (200). Conversely, Manufacturing and Information sectors saw decreases of 1,200 and 200 jobs, respectively.
Comparing recent data to February 2024, there was a total increase of 64,900 Nonfarm jobs, with the Private sector growing by 49,700 jobs and Government jobs increasing by 15,200. Education & Health Services led the increase with 23,100 jobs, followed by Government and Professional & Business Services with 15,200 and 11,000 jobs, respectively. Manufacturing saw a decline of 9,000 jobs, and the Information sector shrank by 1,300 jobs.
The forthcoming unemployment update is scheduled for April 9, 2025, where county-level unemployment figures for February 2025 will be published.
