Department of Numbers

Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Charlotte fell 0.2 percentage points in December 2011 to 10.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points higher than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Charlotte peaked in December 2009 at 12.4% and is now 1.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 10.4% in March 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Charlotte unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
National 8.5% -0.2 -0.9
North Carolina 9.9% -0.1 +0.1
Charlotte 10.5% -0.2 -0.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Charlotte, North Carolina, National

Charlotte, North Carolina monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Charlotte, North Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Charlotte peaked in December 2009 at 106,848. There are now 17,216 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 87,855 in April 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,777. Charlotte employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Charlotte, North Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
Charlotte 89,632 -1,851 -5,298

Number of Unemployed Persons

Charlotte, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
North Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Charlotte
Unemployment Rate
Charlotte
Unemployed
January
2012
8.3%
December
2011
8.5% 9.9% 10.5% 89,632
November
2011
8.7% 10.0% 10.7% 91,483
October
2011
8.9% 10.4% 11.1% 95,089
September
2011
9.0% 10.5% 11.2% 96,114
August
2011
9.1% 10.4% 11.1% 94,900
July
2011
9.1% 10.1% 10.9% 92,757
June
2011
9.1% 9.9% 10.7% 90,673
May
2011
9.0% 9.7% 10.4% 88,252
April
2011
9.0% 9.7% 10.4% 87,855
March
2011
8.9% 9.7% 10.4% 88,202
February
2011
9.0% 9.8% 10.6% 90,326
January
2011
9.1% 9.8% 10.9% 93,124

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.