Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

News Release Information

18-1812-ATL
Tuesday, December 04, 2018

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (404) 893-4220

Business Employment Dynamics in North Carolina – First Quarter 2018

From December 2017 to March 2018, gross job gains in North Carolina totaled 227,451, while gross job losses numbered 190,130, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 37,321. During the previous quarter, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 27,847. (See chart 1.)

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See the Technical Note for more information.)

With few exceptions, North Carolina’s gross job gains have remained above 200,000 each quarter since the first quarter of 2010. North Carolina’s gross job losses numbered 190,130 in the first quarter of 2018, below the recent peak of 221,870 gross job losses in the second quarter of 2017. (Seechart 1.)

North Carolina’s rate of gross job gains as a percent of private sector employment was 6.2 percent in the first quarter of 2018; nationally gross job gains accounted for 6.0 percent of private sector employment. (See chart 2.) Gross job losses represented 5.2 percent of private sector employment in North Carolina, while nationally gross job losses accounted for 5.4 percent of private sector employment in the first quarter of 2018.

During the first quarter of 2018, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 10 of the 11 industry sectors in North Carolina. Leisure and hospitality added more than 44,900 jobs in opening and expanding establishments, and lost approximately 36,400 jobs in closing and contracting establishments. The resulting net gain of 8,527 jobs was the largest of any North Carolina sector in the first quarter of 2018. In education and health services, almost 27,400 jobs were added in opening and expanding establishments, while about 20,700 jobs were lost in closing and contracting establishments, resulting in a net gain of 6,672 jobs. Professional and business service added nearly 46,400 jobs in opening and expanding establishments and lost approximately 41,000 jobs in closing and contracting establishments, resulting in a net gain of 5,418 jobs. Within the construction and retail trade sectors, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 4,535 and 4,088, respectively. Among the five other sectors with net employment gains, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by less than 2,900. (See table 1.)  

Transportation and warehousing was the only industry sector in North Carolina with gross job losses exceeding gross job gains in the first quarter of 2018. With approximately 6,600 gross jobs gains in opening and expanding establishments, and nearly 8,100 jobs losses in closing and contracting establishments, transportation and warehousing had a net loss of 1,498 jobs. 

Additional statistics and other information

BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. For more information on the Business Employment Dynamics data, visit the BED web site at www.bls.gov/bdm/.

The Business Employment Dynamics for Second Quarter 2018 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

Revisions to Business Employment Dynamics (BED) Data

Data in this release incorporate annual revisions to the BED series. Annual revisions are published each year with the release of first quarter data. These revisions cover the last four quarters of not seasonally adjusted data and five years of seasonally adjusted data.


Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records. Most employers in the U.S. are required to file quarterly reports on the employment and wages of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI) laws, and to pay quarterly UI taxes. The QCEW is based largely on quarterly UI reports which are sent by businesses to the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). These UI reports are supplemented by two additional BLS data collections to render administrative data into economic statistics. Together these data comprise the QCEW and form the basis of the Bureau’s establishment universe sampling frame.

In the BED program, the QCEW records are linked across quarters to provide a longitudinal history for each establishment. The linkage process allows the tracking of net employment changes at the establishment level, which in turn allows the estimation of jobs gained at opening and expanding establishments and jobs lost at closing and contracting establishments.

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. BED statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. The difference between the number of gross jobs gained and the number of gross jobs lost is the net change in employment.

Gross job gains and gross job losses are expressed as rates by dividing their levels by the average of employment in the current and previous quarters. The rates are calculated for the components of gross job gains and gross job losses and then summed to form their respective totals. These rates can be added and subtracted just as their levels can. For instance, the difference between the gross job gains rate and the gross job losses rate is the net growth rate.

The formal definitions of employment changes are as follows:

Openings.  These are either establishments with positive third month employment for the first time in the current quarter, with no links to the prior quarter, or with positive third month employment in the current quarter following zero employment in the previous quarter.

Expansions.  These are establishments with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net increase in employment over this period.

Closings.  These are either establishments with positive third month employment in the previous quarter, with no employment or zero employment reported in the current quarter.

Contractions.  These are establishments with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net decrease in employment over this period.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, North Carolina, seasonally adjusted
CategoryGross job gains and job losses (3 months ended)Gross job gains and job losses as a percent of employment (3 months ended)
Mar. 2017June 2017Sept. 2017Dec. 2017Mar. 2018Mar. 2017June 2017Sept. 2017Dec. 2017Mar. 2018

Total private (1)

Gross job gains

229,283228,081217,327228,877227,4516.46.36.06.36.2

At expanding establishments

186,181183,441176,915189,424181,3275.25.14.95.24.9

At opening establishments

43,10244,64040,41239,45346,1241.21.21.11.11.3

Gross job losses

203,934221,870218,183201,030190,1305.76.26.05.55.2

At contracting establishments

169,086176,468181,480160,221162,3264.74.95.04.44.4

At closing establishments

34,84845,40236,70340,80927,8041.01.31.01.10.8

Net employment change (2)

25,3496,211-85627,84737,3210.70.10.00.81.0

Construction

Gross job gains

17,53417,54516,00218,22918,2898.58.47.68.78.5

At expanding establishments

13,77213,76612,39314,49414,0156.76.65.96.96.5

At opening establishments

3,7623,7793,6093,7354,2741.81.81.71.82.0

Gross job losses

15,23716,25514,78114,17113,7547.47.87.16.76.3

At contracting establishments

11,59512,34011,63610,97410,8765.65.95.65.25.0

At closing establishments

3,6423,9153,1453,1972,8781.81.91.51.51.3

Net employment change (2)

2,2971,2901,2214,0584,5351.10.60.52.02.2

Manufacturing

Gross job gains

14,10216,16713,71614,92314,5163.13.52.93.23.0

At expanding establishments

12,89114,83912,54913,89813,4282.83.22.73.02.8

At opening establishments

1,2111,3281,1671,0251,0880.30.30.20.20.2

Gross job losses

13,96814,08914,34213,47813,3792.93.03.02.92.8

At contracting establishments

12,80812,19612,85911,12812,4892.72.62.72.42.6

At closing establishments

1,1601,8931,4832,3508900.20.40.30.50.2

Net employment change (2)

1342,078-6261,4451,1370.20.5-0.10.30.2

Wholesale trade

Gross job gains

8,6529,9728,3959,3138,8784.75.44.65.04.9

At expanding establishments

6,9627,9316,9967,6496,9503.84.33.84.13.8

At opening establishments

1,6902,0411,3991,6641,9280.91.10.80.91.1

Gross job losses

7,6908,2158,1297,6147,3734.24.54.44.14.0

At contracting establishments

5,9095,8376,5415,8205,8693.23.23.53.13.2

At closing establishments

1,7812,3781,5881,7941,5041.01.30.91.00.8

Net employment change (2)

9621,7572661,6991,5050.50.90.20.90.9

Retail trade

Gross job gains

32,32829,86229,17029,01730,9506.56.05.85.96.2

At expanding establishments

26,41525,32124,69425,25626,3215.35.14.95.15.3

At opening establishments

5,9134,5414,4763,7614,6291.20.90.90.80.9

Gross job losses

29,14531,27930,23228,35226,8625.86.36.15.75.4

At contracting establishments

25,57626,31826,46724,39224,0635.15.35.34.94.8

At closing establishments

3,5694,9613,7653,9602,7990.71.00.80.80.6

Net employment change (2)

3,183-1,417-1,0626654,0880.7-0.3-0.30.20.8

Transportation and warehousing

Gross job gains

6,4257,1157,5809,4246,5865.05.66.07.25.0

At expanding establishments

5,5356,2436,5878,4105,2644.34.95.26.44.0

At opening establishments

8908729931,0141,3220.70.70.80.81.0

Gross job losses

9,0736,3265,6984,9968,0847.05.04.53.86.1

At contracting establishments

8,3784,7844,7023,9437,3386.53.83.73.05.5

At closing establishments

6951,5429961,0537460.51.20.80.80.6

Net employment change (2)

-2,6487891,8824,428-1,498-2.00.61.53.4-1.1

Information

Gross job gains

3,3423,7223,9794,2094,0514.24.75.05.45.1

At expanding establishments

2,6842,9823,1633,5163,4393.43.84.04.54.3

At opening establishments

6587408166936120.80.91.00.90.8

Gross job losses

3,0544,1764,0114,2652,9303.95.35.15.53.7

At contracting establishments

2,3533,3733,2013,1142,4913.04.34.14.03.1

At closing establishments

7018038101,1514390.91.01.01.50.6

Net employment change (2)

288-454-32-561,1210.3-0.6-0.1-0.11.4

Financial activities

Gross job gains

12,72312,45112,24112,53111,7785.75.55.45.55.1

At expanding establishments

10,2509,7609,2899,3019,0534.64.34.14.13.9

At opening establishments

2,4732,6912,9523,2302,7251.11.21.31.41.2

Gross job losses

10,83411,50311,10810,9708,8844.95.14.94.83.8

At contracting establishments

8,2228,2818,3618,1456,5413.73.73.73.62.8

At closing establishments

2,6123,2222,7472,8252,3431.21.41.21.21.0

Net employment change (2)

1,8899481,1331,5612,8940.80.40.50.71.3

Professional and business services

Gross job gains

46,88349,74643,61247,98946,3957.78.17.17.87.4

At expanding establishments

38,27838,93735,18740,05636,3506.36.35.76.55.8

At opening establishments

8,60510,8098,4257,93310,0451.41.81.41.31.6

Gross job losses

40,38047,02646,18842,56040,9776.67.67.56.86.5

At contracting establishments

32,45436,86338,03633,01034,7685.36.06.25.35.5

At closing establishments

7,92610,1638,1529,5506,2091.31.61.31.51.0

Net employment change (2)

6,5032,720-2,5765,4295,4181.10.5-0.41.00.9

Education and health services

Gross job gains

28,72526,26426,85426,62627,3565.04.64.74.64.7

At expanding establishments

24,84721,32423,02922,37522,1514.33.74.03.93.8

At opening establishments

3,8784,9403,8254,2515,2050.70.90.70.70.9

Gross job losses

25,28024,84225,35224,25020,6844.44.34.44.23.5

At contracting establishments

21,31820,27121,14319,01218,0743.73.53.73.33.1

At closing establishments

3,9624,5714,2095,2382,6100.70.80.70.90.4

Net employment change (2)

3,4451,4221,5022,3766,6720.60.30.30.41.2

Leisure and hospitality

Gross job gains

44,72343,60244,31544,21344,9049.18.89.08.98.9

At expanding establishments

33,59233,24834,05934,57433,6796.86.76.97.06.7

At opening establishments

11,13110,35410,2569,63911,2252.32.12.11.92.2

Gross job losses

38,24344,49445,60139,92236,3777.89.09.28.17.3

At contracting establishments

31,57135,93638,48432,42531,0406.47.37.86.66.2

At closing establishments

6,6728,5587,1177,4975,3371.41.71.41.51.1

Net employment change (2)

6,480-892-1,2864,2918,5271.3-0.2-0.20.81.6

Other services (3)

Gross job gains

8,2628,1738,0898,4978,4518.48.38.28.58.3

At expanding establishments

6,1156,2236,0926,6586,2926.26.36.26.76.2

At opening establishments

2,1471,9501,9971,8392,1592.22.02.01.82.1

Gross job losses

7,3987,9437,9907,4277,6487.58.08.17.57.6

At contracting establishments

5,8805,7576,1325,6325,9266.05.86.25.75.9

At closing establishments

1,5182,1861,8581,7951,7221.52.21.91.81.7

Net employment change (2)

864230991,0708030.90.30.11.00.7

Footnotes:
(1) Includes unclassified sector not shown separately.
(2) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. See the Technical Note for further information.
(3) Except public administration.


Table 2. Private sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of total employment by state, seasonally adjusted
CategoryGross job gains as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Gross job losses as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Mar.
2017
June
2017
Sept.
2017
Dec.
2017
Mar.
2018
Mar.
2017
June
2017
Sept.
2017
Dec.
2017
Mar.
2018

United States(1)

6.16.26.06.46.05.65.86.15.65.4

Alabama

6.15.66.06.06.05.25.65.85.45.3

Alaska

9.410.98.79.79.810.19.910.810.28.8

Arizona

6.06.26.66.36.05.55.75.25.35.3

Arkansas

5.75.45.86.15.45.25.75.55.15.0

California

6.86.96.56.96.46.26.56.36.05.9

Colorado

6.97.06.76.86.86.06.36.56.16.0

Connecticut

5.85.75.45.35.15.45.25.85.25.2

Delaware

6.66.76.47.07.15.96.66.66.45.9

District of Columbia

5.85.75.45.86.04.85.45.25.04.7

Florida

6.16.65.88.26.15.66.17.55.35.5

Georgia

6.36.26.26.96.55.96.16.15.65.6

Hawaii

5.45.25.45.15.04.85.35.14.74.8

Idaho

7.87.36.77.47.96.46.66.86.65.9

Illinois

5.95.75.66.05.75.55.66.05.35.1

Indiana

5.75.75.45.75.65.15.55.65.05.1

Iowa

6.15.75.55.95.55.65.85.75.35.3

Kansas

5.95.56.35.95.25.66.55.75.25.5

Kentucky

5.96.16.06.16.25.66.06.05.65.9

Louisiana

6.56.36.26.26.55.96.66.16.05.8

Maine

7.27.76.57.27.26.66.87.56.67.0

Maryland

6.16.46.36.26.35.96.16.26.35.7

Massachusetts

5.66.15.45.75.45.25.35.65.45.2

Michigan

5.65.85.35.75.75.05.36.05.44.6

Minnesota

5.95.75.35.85.34.95.35.75.55.0

Mississippi

5.95.95.96.35.55.96.05.95.45.8

Missouri

5.95.65.95.75.45.05.65.95.55.2

Montana

8.17.97.28.57.87.27.77.97.47.1

Nebraska

6.05.55.96.25.65.16.15.95.55.5

Nevada

6.66.26.26.66.55.25.95.85.25.4

New Hampshire

5.86.65.56.76.15.76.06.65.95.9

New Jersey

5.66.76.06.45.65.95.66.35.85.8

New Mexico

6.56.86.66.56.36.26.46.36.15.5

New York

6.26.46.36.26.25.75.86.15.85.6

North Carolina

6.46.36.06.36.25.76.26.05.55.2

North Dakota

7.66.86.76.87.06.86.96.76.86.3

Ohio

5.85.85.35.75.55.25.55.75.25.0

Oklahoma

6.36.66.66.46.16.26.06.05.85.5

Oregon

7.06.76.66.87.85.96.16.46.05.6

Pennsylvania

5.35.55.55.55.25.05.25.25.04.9

Rhode Island

6.46.56.06.66.36.05.96.36.06.1

South Carolina

6.26.15.87.05.95.76.16.25.34.7

South Dakota

6.46.25.86.46.45.96.25.95.75.9

Tennessee

5.25.55.45.95.05.05.25.24.94.8

Texas

5.95.95.96.45.85.25.45.85.35.1

Utah

7.76.87.07.07.46.16.36.35.96.0

Vermont

6.67.96.57.46.46.86.87.86.57.0

Virginia

6.16.45.96.35.85.65.96.25.55.2

Washington

6.97.16.46.97.26.06.26.46.05.7

West Virginia

6.36.46.76.36.86.36.56.36.15.8

Wisconsin

5.95.65.05.65.64.85.55.75.04.7

Wyoming

8.98.68.78.78.48.19.17.98.48.0

Puerto Rico

5.15.44.57.18.45.75.46.811.86.8

Virgin Islands

5.66.74.29.212.05.55.311.628.216.8

Footnotes
(1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

 

Last Modified Date: Tuesday, December 04, 2018