State News

Perdue: Jobless to rise though economy better

The governor says things are better than when she took office in January but that unemployment might reach 11.5 percent before job prospects improve.

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Unemployment
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Gov. Beverly Perdue says the state's financial picture is improving but that unemployment might keep rising in the short term.

Perdue told members of the North Carolina School Boards Association on Monday that things are better than when she took office in January. But she said unemployment might reach 11.5 percent before job prospects improve.

North Carolina's unemployment rate has been hovering around 11 percent since February.

Perdue also announced the development of a new Web site that lets users learn more about higher education courses they can take online.

The governor also was scheduled to visit the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Winston-Salem.

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