RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased again slightly in June, nudging up to 4.9 percent from 4.8 percent in May.

After dropping to a low of 4.5 percent in February and March, the jobless rate inched up to 4.8 percent in April and May.

The national unemployment rate is 4.5 percent.

Despite the increase, the number of people working is up 52,123 from a year ago, according to the N.C. Employment Security Commission.

The ESC was not surprised by the increase, said Commissioner Harry Payne, Jr.

“Historically, the North Carolina labor force experiences an increase this time of year as high school students look for summer jobs,” he said.”

The number of people working actually increased for the first time in three months, with 1,963 finding work. That pushed the state’s employment total to 4,309,833. The number of people entering the workforce increased, offsetting the number of people finding jobs and thus pushing up the jobless rate.