Special to IFN

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted December 2025 unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, unchanged from November’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.4 percent.

North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago.

The number of people employed increased 9,802 over the month to 5,104,078 and increased 14,611 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 683 over the month to 204,751 and increased 8,543 over the year.

Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 3,300 to 5,125,000 in December. Major industries experiencing increases were Leisure & Hospitality Services, 2,900; Financial Activities, 1,900; Private Education & Health Services, 1,700; Construction, 1,100; Government, 900; Professional & Business Services, 800; Other Services, 600; and Mining & Logging, 100. Major industries experiencing decreases were Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 5,900; and Manufacturing, 800. Information employment remained unchanged.

Since December 2024, Total Nonfarm jobs increased 80,700 with the Total Private sector increasing by 78,800 and Government increasing by 1,900. Major industries experiencing increases were Private Education & Health Services, 19,400; Professional & Business Services, 18,200; Construction, 14,400; Leisure & Hospitality Services, 13,100; Financial Activities, 9,100; Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 7,300; Other Services, 4,900; Government, 1,900; and Mining & Logging, 300. Major industries experiencing decreases over the year were Manufacturing, 7,200; and Information, 700.