Skip to Main Content
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Menu

North Carolina

aerial view of North Carolina

Payroll employment in North Carolina increased by 3,300 jobs (0.1 percent) in November. The unemployment rate ticked up slightly by 0.1 percentage point to 3.8 percent between September and November.

Download Full PDF

Labor market icon showing three people Labor Market Conditions

  • "North Carolina labor market conditions softened in November as payroll gains were partially offset by a notable decline in health care employment. The unemployment rate also increased slightly." – Bethany Greene
  • Total payroll employment in North Carolina increased by 3,300 jobs (0.1 percent), on net, during the month. Most job gains came from construction (1,900 jobs), professional and business services (1,600 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (1,600 jobs). These job gains were partially offset by a significant decline in education and health services employment (3,400 jobs), the first decline in over three years.
  • On an annual basis, payroll employment increased by 87,900 jobs (1.7 percent). Yearly job growth was led by professional and business services (20,100 jobs), education and health services (19,000 jobs), and leisure and hospitality (14,800 jobs). However, manufacturing employment declined by 5,700, and the information sector lost 1000 jobs on a yearly basis.
  • The unemployment rate in North Carolina ticked up slightly by 0.1 percentage point to 3.8 percent between September and November. (October data is not available.)

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

  • North Carolina issued 0.4 percent fewer residential permits in August 2025 than in July 2025. Residential permitting decreased 24.7 percent in August 2025 compared to August 2024.
  • According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home values grew 0.2 percent in Q3 of 2025 compared to Q2 of 2025. Home values rose 2.9 percent from Q3 of 2024 to Q3 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.

Subscribe to Economic Data

Receive an email notification when regional surveys and reports are posted online:

Subscribe to Economic Data

By submitting this form you agree to the Bank's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Notice.

Contact Icon Contact Us
Joseph Mengedoth