Department of Numbers

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Hickory fell 0.0 percentage points in May 2023 to 3.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Hickory peaked in April 2020 at 18.7% and is now 15.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.2% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Hickory unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
North Carolina 3.4% 0.0 0.0
Hickory 3.2% 0.0 -0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June 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 30,481. There are now 24,827 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 5,578 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 76. Hickory employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Hickory, North Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Hickory 5,654 +76 -383

Number of Unemployed Persons

Hickory, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
North Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Hickory
Unemployment Rate
Hickory
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 3.4% 3.2% 5,654
April
2023
3.4% 3.4% 3.2% 5,578
March
2023
3.5% 3.5% 3.2% 5,594
February
2023
3.6% 3.6% 3.2% 5,677
January
2023
3.4% 3.8% 3.4% 5,894
December
2022
3.5% 3.8% 3.5% 6,127
November
2022
3.6% 3.9% 3.5% 6,147
October
2022
3.7% 3.9% 3.5% 6,213
September
2022
3.5% 3.9% 3.6% 6,293
August
2022
3.7% 3.9% 3.6% 6,336
July
2022
3.5% 3.7% 3.6% 6,312

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.