Department of Numbers

Raleigh, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Raleigh fell 0.0 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.7 percentage points lower than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Raleigh peaked in April 2020 at 12.5% and is now 9.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.0% in April 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Raleigh 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
Raleigh 3.1% 0.0 -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: 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 82,915. There are now 59,119 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 22,597 in September 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,199. Raleigh employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Raleigh, North Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Raleigh 23,796 +137 -330

Number of Unemployed Persons

Raleigh, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
North Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Raleigh
Unemployment Rate
Raleigh
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.8% 3.1% 23,796
December
2022
3.5% 3.8% 3.1% 23,659
November
2022
3.6% 3.9% 3.1% 23,673
October
2022
3.7% 3.9% 3.0% 23,147
September
2022
3.5% 3.9% 3.0% 22,597
August
2022
3.7% 3.9% 3.0% 22,640
July
2022
3.5% 3.7% 3.0% 22,684
June
2022
3.6% 3.6% 3.0% 22,991
May
2022
3.6% 3.4% 3.0% 22,811
April
2022
3.6% 3.3% 3.0% 22,838
March
2022
3.6% 3.3% 3.1% 22,844

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.