January 2025

Released March 17, 2025

Download the full PDF for North Carolina

Download the summary PDF for North Carolina

United States Employment Snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.

North Carolina Employment Snapshot

• In January, North Carolina added 7,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, North Carolina added 12,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Carolina added 60,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. North Carolina is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, North Carolina’s private sector added 7,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 41,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Carolina added 12,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in North Carolina rose by 5,845, and over the past 12 months it rose by 672.

• North Carolina’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 59.8 percent in January and ranks 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.

---

North Carolina Payroll Employment

• North Carolina added 7,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, North Carolina added 12,300 jobs. North Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. North Carolina is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Carolina added 7,300 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, North Carolina added 12,100 jobs. North Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. North Carolina is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during January were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (3,200) and Education and Health Services (2,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Mining and Logging (-100) and Leisure and Hospitality (-3,800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (23,700) and Government (19,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-1,000) and Manufacturing (-7,000).

North Carolina Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in North Carolina remained unchanged at 59.8 percent in January.

• North Carolina ranks 40th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Carolina was 61.6 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 56.6 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.