Department of Numbers

Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Durham fell 0.0 percentage points in November 2023 to 2.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points lower than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Durham peaked in April 2020 at 10.8% and is now 7.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.9% in August 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Durham 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
Durham 2.9% 0.0 -0.3
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: Durham, North Carolina, National

Durham, North Carolina monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Durham, North Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Durham peaked in April 2020 at 30,534. There are now 20,927 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 9,523 in October 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 84. Durham employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Durham, North Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Durham 9,607 +84 -468

Number of Unemployed Persons

Durham, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
North Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Durham
Unemployment Rate
Durham
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.5% 2.9% 9,607
October
2023
3.8% 3.4% 2.9% 9,523
September
2023
3.8% 3.4% 2.9% 9,541
August
2023
3.8% 3.3% 2.9% 9,532
July
2023
3.5% 3.3% 3.0% 9,660
June
2023
3.6% 3.3% 3.0% 9,783
May
2023
3.7% 3.4% 3.1% 9,940
April
2023
3.4% 3.4% 3.1% 9,945
March
2023
3.5% 3.5% 3.1% 9,948
February
2023
3.6% 3.6% 3.1% 9,898
January
2023
3.4% 3.8% 3.2% 9,989

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.