Triad jobless rate, employment market remain stagnant in April

The Triad's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6% during April even with a notable decline in the labor force, the N.C. Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

The April report continues to reflect an overall stagnant market for both job seekers and employers. Over the past year, the Triad's jobless rate has ranged from 3.6% to 4.3%.

The 10-county region experienced a 7,261 net decline in the labor force from March to April, bringing the total to 807,926 listed as employed.

Meanwhile, those listed as unemployed dropped by 660 to 29,082 in April.

The unemployment rate usually is affected by workers being hired or by job eliminations. Those voluntarily leaving the workforce are not counted as unemployed.

Forsyth County's employment rate stayed the same at 3.6%, while Guilford County's rate was unchanged at 3.9%.

Economists consider a 5% unemployment rate as full employment.

Altogether, six counties in the Triad and northwest N.C. had a decrease in their month-over-month jobless rate, while eight were unchanged.

Limited Triad job gains

Commerce no longer provides a monthly update on metro hiring patterns across eight private-sector categories and state and local government.

The Winston-Salem metro area of Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes and Yadkin counties had a net year-over-year gain of 1,900 private sector jobs, while there was a 100 decline in government jobs.

Leading the year-over-year net gains were 2,600 jobs in private education and health services and 800 in the lower-wage leisure and hospitality services sector.

Meanwhile, there was a year-over-year loss of 1,000 jobs in manufacturing, 300 in trade, transportation and utilities, and 300 in financial activities.

For the three-county Greensboro-High Point metro area of Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham counties, there was a net gain of 600 private-sector jobs and 300 in government.

Leading the year-over-year net gains were 1,500 jobs in private education and health services, and 500 each in professional and business services, and in leisure and hospitality.

There was a loss of 800 in trade, transportation and utilities, 800 in manufacturing and 400 in information technology.

Manufacturing job losses have been acutely felt in the Triad with at least 12 plant closing announcements since the start of 2025. More than 1,330 jobs were lost in those announcements.

"Hiring momentum is clearly slowing across the country, and North Carolina is not immune," said Mark Vitner, chief economist with Piedmont Crescent Capital.

"Businesses have become more cautious about slowing economic growth and increased policy uncertainty. Workers are also remaining in their jobs longer, with turnover slowing sharply across all industries."

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