N.C. unemployment rate climbs to 9.7 percent

The rate is seasonally adjusted for a variety of economic factors and is considered a more reliable measure of the true jobs picture than the unadjusted rate.

A year ago, the jobless rate was 10.7 percent, the North Carolina Department of Commerce Labor and Economic Analysis Division noted in the new report released Friday morning.

North Carolina continues to have one of the worst jobless rates in the country. Nationally, unemployment stood at 8.1 percent last month.

“Looking at the data long-term, North Carolina has added nearly 98,000 nonfarm jobs since January 2010,” said N.C. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll. “Our workforce partners and our employment service offices across our state are committed to helping employers put citizens back to work in North Carolina.”

Total nonfarm industry employment did increase by 1,100 to just above 3.95 million, based on a survey of businesses, the state said.

However, the number of people listed as unemployed grew by 5,952 to 451,642.

Most of the addition jobs came in government, which added 8,400 positions.

The "other services" category reported 1,200 more jobs. Professional and business services added 800, education and health services increased by 600, and information employment grew by 300.

The biggest drops came in construction (3,400), trade, transportation and utilities (2,500), manufacturing (2,300), and financial activities (1,000.).