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The decrease in unemployed workers in the labor force pushed the unemployment rate for the State down this <br />month, from 10.5 percent in September to 10.4 percent in October on a seasonally adjusted basis. The decline <br />is the first drop in the unemployment rate since March of this year. The U.S. unemployment rate fell from <br />September to October as well. The current November release of U.S. unemployment shows the rate at 8.6 <br />percent, reflecting a nationwide increase in employment and decrease in unemployment. <br />N.C. Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security, Labor Force Statistics <br />Initial unemployment benefit claims are a leading indicator of future unemployment rates. New initial <br />claimants totaled 53,752 in October, an increase of 2,503 from September. The number of claimants was <br />significantly lower than October 2010 with nearly 4,000 fewer first time claimants. Since hiring and firing tend <br />to follow seasonal trends (more activity in the spring and fall) the lower October 2011 claims compared to the <br />previous year is a positive sign for the economy. <br />Initial <br />Unemployment <br />Sep -11 Oct -11 <br />Previous Month <br />(10/11 compared to 9/11) <br />Change I %Change <br />Last Year -Same Month <br />(10/11 compared to 10/10) 12 Month Average <br />Change I %Change (Beg.of11 /10- Endof10 /11) <br />North Carolina 51,249 53,7521 <br />2,503 <br />1 4.9% <br />Unemployment <br />Previous Month <br />Last Year -Same Month <br />Start of Recession <br />Sector <br />Sep -11 <br />Oct -11 <br />(10/11 compared to 9/11) <br />(10/11 compared to 10 /10) <br />(10/11 compared to 12/07) <br />(revised) <br />(preliminary) <br />%Point Change <br />%Point Change <br />%Point Change <br />North Carolina <br />10.5% <br />10.4% <br />-0.2% <br />0.5% <br />5.4% <br />United States <br />9.1% <br />9.0% <br />-0.1% <br />-0.6% <br />4.0% <br />N.C. Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security, Labor Force Statistics <br />Initial unemployment benefit claims are a leading indicator of future unemployment rates. New initial <br />claimants totaled 53,752 in October, an increase of 2,503 from September. The number of claimants was <br />significantly lower than October 2010 with nearly 4,000 fewer first time claimants. Since hiring and firing tend <br />to follow seasonal trends (more activity in the spring and fall) the lower October 2011 claims compared to the <br />previous year is a positive sign for the economy. <br />Initial <br />Unemployment <br />Sep -11 Oct -11 <br />Previous Month <br />(10/11 compared to 9/11) <br />Change I %Change <br />Last Year -Same Month <br />(10/11 compared to 10/10) 12 Month Average <br />Change I %Change (Beg.of11 /10- Endof10 /11) <br />North Carolina 51,249 53,7521 <br />2,503 <br />1 4.9% <br />(3,392) <br />F -5.9% 57,858 <br />N.C. Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security; Labor Market Information <br />North Carolina Nonfarm Employment growth remains flat <br />Preliminary data' suggest: <br />• Since last month (September 2011) the economy experienced a net gain of 5,500 jobs. <br />• Leisure and Hospitality comprised 44 percent of gross job losses. <br />• The Government sector saw the largest growth over the period. <br />• Over the past twelve months employment has risen by over 11,000 jobs. <br />• Only 2 sectors (Government and Construction) have experienced declines of over 4,000 jobs. <br />• Manufacturing has posted its 10 consecutive month of year- over -year growth after showing <br />continuous year- over -year declines since August of 1998. <br />• Since the start of the recession <br />o Government sector employment has been below pre- recessionary levels since September 2010. <br />U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Economy at a Glance Data, Nonfarm Wage and Salary Employment <br />1 <br />The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases a preliminary estimate of sector employment on a monthly basis. These values are revised with a rolling 3 month lag. <br />Policy, Research & Strategic Planning; November M1ctit 6lrtnber 1 <br />1 -1 Page 413 <br />North <br />Carolina <br />Seasonally Adjusted <br />Nonfarm Em p l o y ment <br />Previous Month <br />. <br />LastYear - SameMonth <br />Startof Recession <br />Sector <br />Sep -11 <br />Oct -11 <br />(10/11 compared to 9/11) <br />(10/11 compared to 10 /10) <br />(10/11 compared to 12/07) <br />(revised) <br />(preliminary) <br />Change %Change <br />Change I %Change <br />Change %Change <br />Mining &Logging <br />5,700 <br />5,700 <br />0 <br />0.0% <br />0 <br />0.0% <br />(1,200) <br />-17.4% <br />Construction <br />172,400 <br />170,600 <br />(1,800) <br />-1.0% <br />(4,900) <br />-2.8% <br />(81,600) <br />-32.4% <br />Manufacturing <br />433,200 <br />431,500 <br />(1,700) <br />-0.4% <br />1,100 <br />0.3% <br />(101,500) <br />-19.0% <br />Trade, Transportation, &Utilities <br />715,400 <br />714,200 <br />(1,200) <br />-0.2% <br />5,300 <br />0.7% <br />(66,200) <br />-8.5% <br />Information <br />68,300 <br />68,100 <br />(200) <br />-0.3% <br />(200) <br />-0.3% <br />(4,100) <br />-5.7% <br />Financial Activities <br />200,600 <br />201,200 <br />600 <br />0.3% <br />1,200 <br />0.6% <br />(10,700) <br />-5.0% <br />Professional & Business Services <br />494,600 <br />498,200 <br />3,600 <br />0.7% <br />9,400 <br />1.9% <br />(7,800) <br />-1.5% <br />Education & Health Services <br />537,400 <br />540,900 <br />3,500 <br />0.7% <br />4,400 <br />0.8% <br />7,400 <br />1.4% <br />Leisure &Hospitality <br />405,900 <br />402,200 <br />(3,700) <br />-0.9% <br />6,600 <br />1.7% <br />(3,200) <br />-0.8% <br />Other Services <br />154,800 <br />156,400 <br />1,600 <br />1.0% <br />(1,600) <br />-1.0% <br />(19,100) <br />-10.9% <br />Government <br />677,500 <br />682,300 <br />4,800 <br />0.7% <br />(10,000) <br />-1.4% <br />(12,500) <br />-1.8% <br />Total Nonfarm Employment <br />3,865,800 <br />3,871,300 <br />5,500 <br />1 0.1%1 <br />11,300 <br />1 0.3% <br />(300,500) <br />-7.2% <br />U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Economy at a Glance Data, Nonfarm Wage and Salary Employment <br />1 <br />The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases a preliminary estimate of sector employment on a monthly basis. These values are revised with a rolling 3 month lag. <br />Policy, Research & Strategic Planning; November M1ctit 6lrtnber 1 <br />1 -1 Page 413 <br />