The unemployment rate in North Carolina decreased to 3.5 percent in August 2026, according to a recent government report. This marks a 0.1 percentage point decline from July’s revised rate of 3.6 percent. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent during the same period. The state’s unemployment rate also reflected a 0.4 percentage point decrease compared to the previous year.
In August, the number of individuals employed in North Carolina decreased by 3,085 from the previous month, bringing the total to 5,049,056. Over the year, employment numbers fell by 47,152. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 4,052 from July to reach 182,042, with an annual decrease of 22,422.
North Carolina’s Total Nonfarm employment rose by 10,000 in August, reaching 5,128,400. Key sectors contributing to this increase included Leisure and Hospitality Services, Construction, and Professional & Business Services. Conversely, sectors such as Information, Financial Activities, and Private Education & Health Services experienced declines. Mining & Logging employment remained stable.
Over the past year, Total Nonfarm jobs in North Carolina have increased by 65,600, with significant contributions from Professional & Business Services, Construction, and Leisure & Hospitality Services. However, Manufacturing and Information sectors saw notable job decreases. The next update on North Carolina’s unemployment rates, focusing on county-level data for August 2026, is set for release on September 30, 2026.
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