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Unemployment remains above 11 percent statewide

The unemployment rate in North Carolina dropped slightly in March to 11.1 percent, marking the third straight month the state has been above the 11 percent mark, according to data released Friday.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — The unemployment rate in North Carolina dropped slightly in March to 11.1 percent, marking the third straight month the state has been above the 11 percent mark, according to data released Friday.

The state has hovered around 11 percent unemployment for a year, from a low of 10.7 percent last April to a high of 11.2 percent in February.

“North Carolina gained 3,300 jobs in March,” Employment Security Commission Chairman Lynn Holmes said in a statement. “Manufacturing and construction both had small gains in the month, but we need to see a more consistent pattern of growth in our job sectors in the coming months before we can be sure this is a sign of sustained growth.”

The number of people employed employed statewide last month was 4,056,681. The largest increases occurred in the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 2,200 jobs, and in manufacturing, which grew by 2,100. The largest decrease was in professional and business services, which shed 2,400 jobs.

The number of people unemployed decreased by 2,794 last month, to 507,686. Non-farm employment has dropped by 61,600 jobs statewide since March 2009, when the unemployment rate was 10.3 percent.

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