North Carolina Sees Slight Rise in Unemployment Amid National Trends
In November 2025, North Carolina reported a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8%, which remains below the national average of 4.6%. This slight increase from the previous year’s 3.7% reflects a modest rise in the number of unemployed individuals, which has grown by 7,465 over the past year.
Despite the uptick in unemployment, North Carolina’s employment landscape has seen positive developments. The state added 3,300 Total Nonfarm jobs in November, bringing the total to 5,119,900. Growth in sectors such as Construction, Leisure & Hospitality Services, Professional & Business Services, and Trade, Transportation & Utilities contributed significantly to this increase. Notably, Construction alone added 1,900 jobs, while Leisure & Hospitality Services and Professional & Business Services each grew by 1,600 jobs.
However, not all industries experienced growth. Private Education & Health Services faced a notable decline, losing 3,400 jobs. Additionally, the Government sector and Manufacturing each saw a reduction of 400 positions, while Mining & Logging experienced a minor decrease of 100 jobs.
Year-Long Employment Trends
Over the past year, Total Nonfarm employment in North Carolina has increased by 87,900 jobs. This growth is primarily driven by the Total Private sector, which added 87,200 jobs, while the Government sector saw a modest increase of 700 jobs. Professional & Business Services led the charge with a significant gain of 20,100 positions, followed by Private Education & Health Services, which added 19,000 jobs. Leisure & Hospitality Services also saw a substantial rise, contributing 14,800 jobs to the state’s economy.
Conversely, the Manufacturing sector has faced challenges, losing 5,700 jobs over the past year. The Information sector also experienced a decline, shedding 1,000 positions.
Looking ahead, the next update on North Carolina’s unemployment rates will be available on January 16, 2026, when county-level data for November 2025 will be released.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since November 2024
| Area | Nov 2024 | Dec 2024 | Jan 2025 | Feb 2025 | Mar 2025 | Apr 2025 | May 2025 | June 2025 | July 2025 | August 2025 | Sep 2025 | Oct 2025 | Nov 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N.C. | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | * | 3.8 |
| U.S. | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | * | 4.6 |
Estimates are subject to monthly and annual revisions*
*October 2025 data are unavailable due to the lapse in appropriations*
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