North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased to 10.8 percent in August, according to statistics released Thursday by the N.C. Employment Security Commission.
“A small loss in the labor force led to the decrease in the rate,” said ESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. “Much like previous months, we have not experienced a lot of change in the labor force one way or the other. These small changes have resulted in slight decreases throughout the past few months. However, we are still dealing with a high unemployment rate and continue to assist our customers throughout the state during these tough economic times.”
Seasonally adjusted employment decreased by 8,330 workers to 4,031,573. Unemployment decreased by 6,534 workers, to 488,974. Since this time last year, unemployment has increased by 189,252 people. Employment is down by 217,761 workers since August 2008. The state rate in August 2008 was 6.6 percent.
Seasonally adjusted, total non-farm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased by 7,000 jobs over the past month and has decreased by 214,000 since August 2008 ó to 3,916,600.
The largest over-the-month increase occurred in government (+20,100). The largest decrease was in trade, trans- portation & utilities (-4,400).
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25, when the county unemployment rates for the August will be released.