North Carolina unemployment rate falls to 3.6% in June

State labor data show North Carolina’s unemployment rate declined from May and remained below the national rate.

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.6% in June, according to figures released July 21 by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

The June rate was down 0.1 percentage point from May’s revised rate and down 0.2 percentage point from a year earlier. The national unemployment rate also declined 0.1 percentage point in June, to 4.2%.

Commerce reported that the number of employed people in North Carolina fell by 12,684 over the month to 5,073,245. The number of employed people was down 14,850 from a year earlier.

The number of unemployed people also declined. Commerce reported 189,968 unemployed people in June, a decrease of 4,567 from May and 12,879 from June 2025.

The monthly establishment survey showed seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased by 400 jobs in June, reaching 5,115,400.

Several major industries posted monthly gains. Construction added 2,900 jobs, private education and health services added 1,100, professional and business services added 1,000, government added 600, manufacturing added 300 and other services added 100.

Other sectors declined over the month. Trade, transportation and utilities lost 3,800 jobs; leisure and hospitality services lost 1,100; information lost 600; and financial activities lost 100. Mining and logging employment was unchanged.

Over the year, total nonfarm jobs increased by 62,900. Commerce reported that the private sector added 58,500 jobs and government added 4,400.

The largest over-the-year gains were in private education and health services, which added 21,800 jobs; leisure and hospitality services, 15,600; construction, 15,500; and professional and business services, 14,800.

Manufacturing employment declined by 10,000 jobs over the year. Information lost 2,900 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities lost 300.

Commerce said the next unemployment update is scheduled for July 29, when county unemployment rates for June will be released.

Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.