Department of Numbers

Raleigh, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Raleigh fell 0.0 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points lower than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Raleigh peaked in April 2020 at 12.3% and is now 9.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.0% in March 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Raleigh 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
Raleigh 3.0% 0.0 -0.1
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: Raleigh, North Carolina, National

Raleigh, North Carolina monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Raleigh, North Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Raleigh peaked in April 2020 at 81,854. There are now 57,784 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 23,382 in March 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 688. Raleigh employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Raleigh, North Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Raleigh 24,070 +293 -396

Number of Unemployed Persons

Raleigh, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
North Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Raleigh
Unemployment Rate
Raleigh
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.5% 3.0% 24,070
October
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.0% 23,777
September
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.0% 23,655
August
2023
3.8% 3.3% 3.0% 23,474
July
2023
3.5% 3.3% 3.0% 23,596
June
2023
3.6% 3.3% 3.0% 23,723
May
2023
3.7% 3.4% 3.1% 23,982
April
2023
3.4% 3.4% 3.1% 23,985
March
2023
3.5% 3.5% 3.1% 24,013
February
2023
3.6% 3.6% 3.1% 23,911
January
2023
3.4% 3.8% 3.1% 24,149

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.