North Carolina unemployment rate holds at 3.7% as labor market shows mixed signs
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in April, but state labor data showed mixed movement beneath the headline number.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce reported that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7% in April, unchanged from March’s revised rate. The national unemployment rate was also unchanged at 4.3%.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate was down 0.1 percentage point from April 2025.
The number of people employed in the state decreased by 9,660 over the month to 5,097,931, while the number of unemployed people decreased by 482 to 196,615. Compared with a year earlier, the number of employed people increased by 9,126 and the number of unemployed people decreased by 4,535.
The data suggest a labor market that remains relatively stable by unemployment rate, even as the labor force figures show smaller month-to-month changes. A declining number of unemployed people can lower pressure on the unemployment rate, but a decrease in the number of employed people can also signal reduced labor force activity or other shifts not captured by the headline rate alone.
The state’s total nonfarm employment increased by 16,000 jobs in April to 5,096,100, according to Commerce.
Leisure and hospitality services added 5,700 jobs over the month. Professional and business services added 3,100 jobs, construction added 2,700 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities added 1,900 jobs.
Smaller monthly gains were reported in financial activities, government, private education and health services, other services and information. Manufacturing was the only major industry category to report a decrease, losing 100 jobs during the month.
Over the year, total nonfarm jobs increased by 45,800. The private sector accounted for 41,400 of those jobs, while government employment increased by 4,400.
Private education and health services posted the largest over-the-year increase, adding 19,300 jobs. Construction added 13,600 jobs, and leisure and hospitality services added 11,300 jobs.
Manufacturing showed the largest over-the-year decline, losing 10,600 jobs. Information employment decreased by 2,400 jobs over the same period.
The report comes as state leaders continue to focus on workforce development, business recruitment, infrastructure and economic competitiveness. The manufacturing decline is also notable because advanced manufacturing remains central to the state’s economic development strategy.
Commerce said the next unemployment update is scheduled for June 3, when county unemployment rates for April are expected to 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.
