Department of Numbers

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Hickory rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Hickory peaked in April 2020 at 18.7% and is now 15.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.2% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Hickory 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
Hickory 3.4% +0.1 -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: 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 24,547 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 356. Hickory employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Hickory, North Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Hickory 5,934 +25 -213

Number of Unemployed Persons

Hickory, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
North Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Hickory
Unemployment Rate
Hickory
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.5% 3.4% 5,934
October
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.3% 5,909
September
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.3% 5,834
August
2023
3.8% 3.3% 3.2% 5,707
July
2023
3.5% 3.3% 3.2% 5,672
June
2023
3.6% 3.3% 3.3% 5,713
May
2023
3.7% 3.4% 3.2% 5,653
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

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.