Department of Numbers

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Hickory fell 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Hickory peaked in April 2020 at 19.1% and is now 15.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.3% in March 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Hickory unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
North Carolina 3.8% 0.0 +0.2
Hickory 3.4% -0.1 -0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Hickory, North Carolina, National

Hickory, North Carolina monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Hickory, North Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Hickory peaked in April 2020 at 31,307. There are now 25,451 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 5,602 in March 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 254. Hickory employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Hickory, North Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Hickory 5,856 -190 -309

Number of Unemployed Persons

Hickory, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
North Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Hickory
Unemployment Rate
Hickory
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.8% 3.4% 5,856
December
2022
3.5% 3.8% 3.5% 6,046
November
2022
3.6% 3.9% 3.6% 6,196
October
2022
3.7% 3.9% 3.6% 6,140
September
2022
3.5% 3.9% 3.4% 5,934
August
2022
3.7% 3.9% 3.4% 5,895
July
2022
3.5% 3.7% 3.4% 5,834
June
2022
3.6% 3.6% 3.4% 5,909
May
2022
3.6% 3.4% 3.3% 5,722
April
2022
3.6% 3.3% 3.3% 5,625
March
2022
3.6% 3.3% 3.3% 5,602

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.