Overall unemployment rate moved down to 3.0% with the biggest shift in Business Services, which lost 1,000 roles, based on the most recently available information published in February 2022.

Total employment in the Winston-Salem, NC market declined by 264 jobs in December and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 3.0%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 20 bps over the same time to 3.7%.

  • Winston-Salem, NC unemployment rate is 69 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 310 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in December versus prior month by 8.4% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Winston-Salem, NC Unemployment December 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.4%. Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 56,400; -400
  • Transportation & Utilities: 50,400; +300
  • Business Services: 36,900; -1,000
  • Manufacturing: 34,200; +400
  • Government: 31,300; no change
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 27,300; -100
  • Financial Services: 12,900; -100
  • Construction, Mining: 11,900; no change
  • Other Jobs: 8,300; -100
  • IT & Development: 1,600; no change
Winston-Salem, NC Unemployment by Industry December 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through December 2021 (Data published February 2022 and reports created on February 4, 2022).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.