According to North Carolina Employment Security Commission data released Friday, the Raleigh-Cary rate reached 3.8 percent in July, up from 3.6 percent in June.
Durham's unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent from 3.9 percent one month earlier.
Still, the rates for both metro areas were 0.5 percent below the figure of one year ago.
"The rate is half a percent lower, which is pretty good," said Larry Parker, a spokesman for the ESC.
Total non-farm employment dropped 400 jobs from June, with a decline of 1,630 government sector jobs - primarily teachers - the biggest factor, according to Parker.
Durham reported a decline of 4,100 jobs, including 3,200 in the government sector, with many of those being teachers, Parker added.
In Fayetteville, meanwhile the jobless rate hit 6.2 percent, compared with 5.6 percent in June.
Other metropolitan unemployment rates were:
By county, unemployment rates included: Wake 3.7; Durham 4.2; Johnston 4.0; Wayne 5.9; Sampson 4.9; Cumberland 6.2; Harnett 5.3; Lee 5.5; Chatham 3.9; Orange 3.8; Person 5.7; Granville 5.4; Vance 8.1; Warren 7.1; Halifax 7.4; Edgecombe 8.5; Nash 6.3; Franklin 4.3; Hoke 5.6, Moore 4.7, and Wilson 8.3.
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