North Carolina's February Employment Figures Released

Raleigh, N.C. - The state’s seasonally adjusted February 2026 unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, unchanged from January’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.4 percent. 

North Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 701 over the month to 5,110,580 and increased 21,711 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 2,352 over the month to 201,100 and decreased 244 over the year. 

Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, decreased 2,600 to 5,069,400 in February. Major industries experiencing increases were Private Education & Health Services, 2,700; Government, 1,200; Other Services, 900; and Construction, 600. Major industries experiencing decreases were Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 3,300; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 1,900; Manufacturing, 1,100; Financial Activities, 800; Professional & Business Services, 500; and Information, 400. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged. 

Since February 2025, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 36,300 with the Total Private sector increasing by 30,800 and Government increasing by 5,500. Major industries experiencing increases were Private Education & Health Services, 22,000; Construction, 11,200; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 7,900; Government, 5,500; Professional & Business Services, 4,300; Financial Activities, 2,900; Other Services, 1,400; and Mining & Logging, 200. Major industries experiencing decreases over the year were Manufacturing, 12,500; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 4,200; and Information, 2,400.  

The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2026 when the county unemployment rates for February 2026 will be released.