RALEIGH — North Carolina’s unemployment rate fell to 3.4% in September as statewide nonfarm payroll employment increased by 67,000 over the year, despite continued manufacturing losses.
The seasonally adjusted rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point from August’s revised 3.5% and remained below the national rate of 4.2%, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce. North Carolina’s rate was 3.9% a year earlier.
Total nonfarm employment edged up by 600 jobs over the month to 5,128,000. Private education and health services added 3,700 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities gained 1,400.
Those gains were largely offset by losses across several industries. Professional and business services shed 1,500 jobs in September, manufacturing lost 1,100, information declined by 800, and construction and leisure and hospitality each lost 500. WFAE independently reported the rate change, the modest monthly payroll gain and the leading sector moves.
Over the year, private employers added 63,900 jobs and government payrolls increased by 3,100. Professional and business services led annual gains with 25,500 jobs, followed by private education and health services with 18,700, construction with 15,900 and leisure and hospitality with 12,800.
Manufacturing moved in the opposite direction, losing 8,800 jobs from September 2025. Information employment declined by 4,500, while mining and logging lost 100.
The household-based labor-force figures also showed a mixed longer-term picture. The number of employed residents increased by 4,623 from August to 5,053,743, while the number unemployed fell by 2,204 to 179,830. Compared with a year earlier, however, the employed count was down 49,720 and the unemployed count was down 24,757.
The payroll and unemployment figures come from separate statistical series and are subject to monthly and annual revisions. Commerce said the next update, covering September county unemployment rates, is scheduled for Oct. 28.