North Carolina employment in November increased by 10,111 workers, and the state’s unemployment rate continued to decline for the second consecutive month to 4.7 percent, according to statistics released by the N.C. Employment Security Commission.
“Another drop in unemployment and a gain in employment as we head into the holiday season is extremely positive,” said ESC Chairman Harry E. Payne Jr. “In the last 12 months, employment has increased by nearly 34,300 workers. We are hopeful this trend will continue throughout the rest of the year and into 2008.”
Overall, employment increased in November to 4,325,270, and the labor force increased by 3,081 people during the month to 4,537,155. Seasonally adjusted unemployment decreased for the second consecutive month by 7,029 workers, to 211,885. Since this time last year, unemployment has decreased by 10,243 workers. The labor force, over the year, has increased by 24,054 people.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate of 4.7 percent matched the U.S. rate for the first time since February 2007. The state rate in November 2006 was 4.9 percent.
Seasonally adjusted, total nonfarm-industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased by 5,200 jobs over the past month, and has increased by 67,400 since November 2006 to 4,121,800. The largest over-the-month increase occurred in Leisure and Hospitality Services (+2,900). The largest decrease was in Construction and Manufacturing (-800).
— Hal L. Millard, staff writer
