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North Carolina

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Total payroll employment in North Carolina grew robustly in April, with 18,100 jobs added (0.4 percent). The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent.

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  • "Job growth accelerated notably in North Carolina in April, driven mostly by professional and business services and trade, transportation and utilities." – Bethany Greene
  • Total payroll employment in North Carolina grew robustly in April, with 18,100 jobs added, on net (0.4 percent). Job gains were led by professional and business services (4,500 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (4,000 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (2,800). These gains were partially offset by a slight decline in financial services employment (400 jobs).
  • On an annual basis, payroll employment increased by 76,700 jobs (1.5 percent). Yearly job growth was led by education and health services (20,300 jobs), professional and business services (17,800 jobs) and government (15,800 jobs). However, the manufacturing sector lost a total of 5,300 jobs on an annual basis, and information employment declined by 600 jobs.
  • The unemployment rate in North Carolina remained unchanged at 3.7 percent.

Housing Market icon showing a picture of a house Housing Market Conditions


  • North Carolina issued 18.0 percent fewer residential permits in April 2025 than in March 2025. Residential permitting decreased by 17.0 percent in April 2025 compared to April 2024.
  • According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home values grew 1.2 percent in Q1 of 2025 compared to Q4 of 2024. Home values rose 4.8 percent from Q1 of 2024 to Q1 of 2025.
Snapshot Resources
  • Term Definitions

    Payroll Employment
    The number of nonfarm jobs (persons on payrolls) according to where those jobs are located.

    Unemployment Rate
    The number of unemployed persons (those not employed but available and searching for work) as a percent of the civilian labor force (the total number of employed plus unemployed persons).

    Industry Structure
    A breakdown of total nonfarm jobs by industry. Percentages sum to 100 percent.

    Industry Growth
    The percentage change in jobs in each industry from a year ago.

    Building Permits
    The number of privately owned single-family and multi-family units authorized in permit-issuing places.

    House Price Index
    A repeat sales index, measuring average price changes in repeat sales or refinancings on the same single-family properties.

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