Overall unemployment rate moved down to 4.9% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 1,400 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2021.
Total employment in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC market rose by 5,600 jobs in January and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 4.9%. The national unemployment rate increased by 31 bps over the same time to 6.8%.
- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC unemployment rate is 191 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 140 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in January versus prior month by 2.7% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -1.3%. Key sectors include:
- Education & Healthcare: 70,600; -300
- Government: 62,900; -1,000
- Business Services: 48,700; -400
- Transportation & Utilities: 38,800; -1,400
- Manufacturing: 33,100; -400
- Restaurants & Hotels: 19,500; -400
- Financial Services: 16,000; -300
- Other Jobs: 10,800; no change
- Construction, Mining: 9,400; -100
- IT & Development: 5,700; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2021 (Data published March 2021 and reports created on March 25, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.