Department of Numbers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Charlotte rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points lower than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Charlotte peaked in April 2020 at 13.9% and is now 10.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.1% in August 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Charlotte unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
North Carolina 3.5% +0.1 -0.4
Charlotte 3.2% +0.1 -0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December 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 April 2020 at 176,957. There are now 130,146 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 46,034 in September 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 777.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Charlotte 46,811 +526 -2,699

Number of Unemployed Persons

Charlotte, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
North Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Charlotte
Unemployment Rate
Charlotte
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.5% 3.2% 46,811
October
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.1% 46,285
September
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.1% 46,034
August
2023
3.8% 3.3% 3.1% 46,107
July
2023
3.5% 3.3% 3.2% 46,838
June
2023
3.6% 3.3% 3.2% 47,241
May
2023
3.7% 3.4% 3.3% 47,805
April
2023
3.4% 3.4% 3.3% 48,128
March
2023
3.5% 3.5% 3.4% 48,581
February
2023
3.6% 3.6% 3.4% 48,434
January
2023
3.4% 3.8% 3.4% 48,880

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.