North Carolina and U.S. unemployment claims - data and graphs

With the coronavirus health pandemic causing an economic crisis across the state and nation, WRAL News is tracking North Carolina unemployment data in a variety of ways and creating visual displays to help you understand the impact on the state's work force and economy.

The graph below shows new state unemployment claims, as well as average claims for the same period of time in 2019 and 2009, when the nation was experiencing a recession. The new claims data comes from the N.C. Division of Employment Security, while the average claims data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in late March — more than quadruple the previous record set in 1982 — amid a widespread economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus. The interactive AP graphic shows total claims across the U.S., and you can drill into statistics for other states.