NC Employment Rate Up Again

North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point in August to 9.7 percent. The national rate declined 0.2 of a percentage point to 8.1 percent.  Even though it went up slightly in August, North Carolina’s August 2012 unemployment rate is 1.0 percentage point lower than a year ago.  “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.  The major industry with the largest over-the-month increase was Government, which gained 8,400.  U.S. Senator Kay Hagan released the following statement on our state’s unemployment rate rising to 9.7 percent in August, up from 9.6 percent in July:  “Today’s jobs report serves as another reminder that we need to do more to move our economy in the right direction…And we can’t wait another day to take action that will help put North Carolinians back to work.”  Sen Hagan went to say that she was disappointed that the Democratic led Senate failed to pass a bill last week that would have helped veterans find jobs.