Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Raleigh fell 0.1 percentage points in December 2011 to 8.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.6 percentage points lower than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Raleigh peaked in October 2009 at 9.3% and is now 1.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 7.6% in March 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Raleigh 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
Raleigh	8.3%	-0.1	+0.1

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: Raleigh, North Carolina, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Raleigh, North Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Raleigh peaked in December 2009 at 52,290. There are now 5,207 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 42,608 in March 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 4,475. Raleigh employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Raleigh, North Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Raleigh	47,083	-709	+1,081

Number of Unemployed Persons

Raleigh, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	North Carolina Unemployment Rate	Raleigh Unemployment Rate	Raleigh Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	9.9%	8.3%	47,083
November 2011	8.7%	10.0%	8.4%	47,792
October 2011	8.9%	10.4%	8.7%	49,249
September 2011	9.0%	10.5%	8.7%	49,332
August 2011	9.1%	10.4%	8.5%	47,995
July 2011	9.1%	10.1%	8.2%	46,286
June 2011	9.1%	9.9%	8.0%	44,822
May 2011	9.0%	9.7%	7.7%	43,336
April 2011	9.0%	9.7%	7.6%	42,792
March 2011	8.9%	9.7%	7.6%	42,608
February 2011	9.0%	9.8%	7.8%	43,612
January 2011	9.1%	9.8%	8.0%	44,999