The state’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, remaining unchanged from October’s revised rate.

The national rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent.

North Carolina’s November 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.9 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 3,415 over the month to 4.81 million and increased 68,418 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 4,294 over the month to 177,230 and decreased 44,690 over the year.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 3,400 to 4.54 million in November. The major industries with the largest over-the-month increases were trade, transportation and utilities at 4,800, followed by information, 700; financial activities, 600; leisure and hospitality services, 300; government, 300; education and health services, 200; and manufacturing, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were professional and business services, 1,700; construction, 1,500; and other services, 400. Mining and logging employment remained unchanged over the month.

Since November 2017, total nonfarm jobs gained 100,700 with the total private sector growing by 96,900 and government increasing by 3,800. The largest over-the-year increase among major industries was trade, transportation and utilities at 25,600, followed by professional and business services, 23,300; education and health services, 14,100; leisure and hospitality services, 9,000; financial activities, 8,600; construction, 7,200; manufacturing, 6,400; government, 3,800; and information, 3,300.

Major industries experiencing decreases were mining and logging, 300; and other services, 300.

The next unemployment update is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 3, when the county unemployment rates for November 2018 will be released.

– Submitted article