North Carolina's January Employment Figures Released
Raleigh, N.C. -— The state’s seasonally adjusted January 2026 unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, unchanged from December’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.3 percent.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 3,494 over the month to 5,109,781 and increased 19,919 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 96 over the month to 203,481 and increased 2,876 over the year.
Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 5,200 to 5,073,400 in January. Major industries experiencing increases were Private Education & Health Services, 4,700; Construction, 1,300; Professional & Business Services, 900; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 800; Government, 300; Financial Activities, 200; Mining & Logging, 100; and Other Services, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Information, 1,600; Manufacturing, 1,400; and Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 200
Since January 2025, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 41,900 with the Total Private sector increasing by 38,200 and Government increasing by 3,700. Major industries experiencing increases were Private Education & Health Services, 22,500; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 10,900; Construction, 10,200; Professional & Business Services, 4,400; Financial Activities, 4,300; Government, 3,700; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 500; and Mining & Logging, 200. Major industries experiencing decreases over the year were Manufacturing, 11,600; and Information, 3,200. Other Services employment remained unchanged over the year.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026 when the county unemployment rates for January 2026 will be released.
