South By North Strategies, Ltd.

The March employment report released today by the Employment Security Commission points to few changes in the state’s labor market. Job growth remains insufficient to accommodate all those who wish to work, and unemployment remains at an elevated level.

Last month, North Carolina employers added 3,300 more positions than they eliminated; private-sector and public-sector employers contributed roughly equally to that gain. Since December 2007, North Carolina has lost, on net, 280,200 positions or 6.7 percent of its payroll employment base.

Moderating labor market conditions are reflected in March’s household data. Last month, the labor force expanded by 0.3 percent as 15,300 additional people sought work. The number of employed individuals rose, and the number of unemployed individuals declined. Consequently, the unemployment rate dipped from 11.2 percent to 11.1 percent. Nevertheless, the past year saw the number of unemployed Tar Heels grow by 7.3 percent and the unemployment rate rise to 11.1 percent from 10.3 percent.

Click here for South by North Strategies’ full analysis of the March employment report.