North Carolina’s Unemployment Rate Sees Slight Improvement in June 2026
In June 2026, North Carolina experienced a minor decline in its unemployment rate, providing a glimpse of economic stability in a fluctuating landscape. As the state’s figures show a decrease, national trends also reflect a similar pattern.
The latest data reveals that North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.6%, a 0.1 percentage point reduction from the previous month. This compares favorably against the national unemployment rate, which also saw a 0.1 percentage point decrease, settling at 4.2%.
Over the past year, North Carolina’s unemployment rate has observed a 0.2 percentage point decrease. Employment numbers, however, saw a dip, with 12,684 fewer people employed over the month, bringing the total to 5,073,245. On an annual scale, employment decreased by 14,850. The number of unemployed individuals shrank by 4,567 over the month, totaling 189,968, and saw a larger reduction of 12,879 over the year.
In terms of industry performance, the state witnessed a minor boost in Total Nonfarm employment, which increased by 400 to 5,115,400 in June. Significant growth was noted in the Construction sector with an increase of 2,900 jobs. Other sectors like Private Education & Health Services, Professional & Business Services, Government, Manufacturing, and Other Services also saw job additions. Conversely, sectors such as Trade, Transportation & Utilities and Leisure and Hospitality Services faced job losses. Mining & Logging employment remained stable without any changes.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates since June 2025
| Area | June 2025 | July 2025 | August 2025 | Sep 2025 | Oct 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Feb 2026 | Mar 2026 | Apr 2026 | May 2026 | June 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N.C. | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | * | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 |
| U.S. | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | * | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 |
Estimates are subject to monthly and annual revisions*
*October 2025 data are unavailable due to the lapse in appropriations*
Since June 2025, Total Nonfarm jobs have risen by 62,900, with the Total Private sector contributing 58,500 and Government jobs increasing by 4,400. The most significant growth occurred in sectors like Private Education & Health Services and Leisure & Hospitality Services, while Manufacturing and Information sectors experienced job declines. Mining & Logging showed no change over the year.
For more detailed insights, the upcoming update on county unemployment rates for June 2026 is scheduled for release on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
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