North Carolina Labor Market Conditions
October 2003*
North Carolina's seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate was 6. 1 percent in
October 2003, down from 6.4 percent in
the previous month. The national unem¬
ployment rate was 6.0 percent, down
from 6.1 percent in September. There
was an over-the-month increase in the
number of North Carolinians employed
and a decrease in the number of indi¬
viduals unemployed. The seasonally-
adjusted civilian labor force was esti¬
mated to be 4, 18 1,100, down 4,000 from
September.
There were an estimated 253,100
(seasonally-adjusted) unemployed work¬
ers in North Carolina in October. This is
down 13,500 from September and down
25,200 from July, when unemployment
peaked.
Based on data from the monthly payroll survey, North Caro¬
lina had 3,833,600 (seasonally-adjusted) nonfarm jobs in Octo¬
ber, an 8,500 (0.2%) increase from last month’s 3,825,100
revised total. There was virtually no over-the-year change
from last October’s total nonfarm employment of 3,833,300— a
net increase of 300 workers. For 2003 as a whole so far, non¬
farm employment peaked in May with 3,844,300 workers, then
declined through the summer to a low point in August of
3,815,000.
October’s 0.2 percent total nonfarm employment gain is due in
large part to an increase in the usual number of student work¬
ers on state run college campuses — government employment
up 1.6 percent. The trade, transportation, warehousing and
Changes in Employment by NAICS Industries
October 2002 Compared to October 2003
Not Seasonally Adjusted
Utilities Services Services
□ October 2(X)2 □ October 2003
North Carolina Total Nonfarin Payroll Employment
Seasonally Adjusted
January 2003 - October 2003
North Carol ina/United States Unemployment Kates
January 2003 - October 2003
Seasonally Adjusted
8%
7%
6%
5%
4%
i%
2%
0 %
□ North Carolina □ United States
*A11 October 2003 data are preliminary.
November 21, 2003
1
LMI Division/ESC
