Our VERIFY team looks into how officials update monthly numbers.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a time when many Americans are feeling the financial squeeze everywhere, from rising prices to mounting bills and job market uncertainty, some are questioning whether unemployment rates have shifted significantly over the past year.
Each month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases unemployment data, which is calculated through a nationwide survey. The survey identifies individuals who are actively seeking work, counting part-time workers as employed and excluding those not currently job hunting, such as retirees or stay-at-home parents.
So, how do current unemployment rates compare to this time last year?
OUR SOURCE:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
WHAT WE FOUND:
According to the BLS, the national unemployment rate stood at 4.2% in July 2025. That figure has remained relatively steady, fluctuating between 4.0% and 4.2% since May 2024.
In North Carolina, the most recent data from June 2025 shows the state’s unemployment rate at 3.7%. That’s a slight increase from 3.6% reported in July 2024.
You can find the latest unemployment figures from the BLS here.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.