North Carolina's April Employment Figures Released

Raleigh, N.C. - The state’s seasonally adjusted April 2026 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, remaining unchanged from March’s revised rate. The national rate was unchanged at 4.3 percent. 

North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 9,660 over the month to 5,097,931 and increased 9,126 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 482 over the month to 196,615 and decreased 4,535 over the year. 

Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 16,000 to 5,096,100 in April. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 5,700; Professional & Business Services, 3,100; Construction, 2,700; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,900; Financial Activities, 900; Government, 900; Private Education & Health Services, 400; Other Services, 300; and Information, 200. The only major industry experiencing a decrease was Manufacturing, 100. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged.

Since April 2025, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 45,800 with the Total Private sector increasing by 41,400 and Government increasing by 4,400. Major industries experiencing increases were Private Education & Health Services, 19,300; Construction, 13,600; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 11,300; Professional & Business Services, 4,600; Government, 4,400; Financial Activities, 3,200; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 1,700; and Other Services, 700. Major industries experiencing decreases over the year were Manufacturing, 10,600; and Information, 2,400. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the year. 

The next unemployment update is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, 2026 when the county unemployment rates for April 2026 will be released.