Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Unemployment rate
1980–2024BLS annual average.
Employment
People at work.
Total nonfarm payroll jobs
1990–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED NCNA).
| Indicator | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Employment (M) | 5.08 | 161.3 |
Unemployment
Joblessness.
Unemployment rate
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average of seasonally adjusted months (FRED NCUR).
| Indicator | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.7 | 4.1 |
- •North Carolina lost more than 300,000 textile and furniture jobs between 1994 and 2010, and has since replaced them with finance, tech and healthcare employment.
Labor Force
Size of the working population.
Civilian labor force
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average (FRED NCLF).
| Indicator | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Labor force (M) | 5.28 | 168.3 |
Occupations
Largest job categories.
Workers in management, business, science and arts occupations
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, civilian employed 16+, C24010 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing share of jobs (%) | 9.4 | 8.0 |
Salaries
Pay levels.
Average weekly earnings, private sector
2007–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED SMU37000000500000011).
Average hourly earnings, private sector
2007–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED SMU37000000500000003).
| Indicator | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage (USD) | 47900 | 48060 |
Remote Work
Working from home.
Workers who work from home
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of workers 16+, B08301 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Remote work share (%) | 17 | 18 |
Workforce Participation
Share of adults in the labor force.
Labor force participation rate
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average (FRED LBSSA37).
| Indicator | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Labor force participation (%) | 60.6 | 62.6 |