RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina’s unemployment rate ticked up to 9.7 percent in August with nearly 6,000 more people reported as jobless.
The state Commerce Department said Friday North Carolina’s unemployment rate rose slightly for a second straight month. The national unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in August, down from 8.3 percent the previous month
The jobless data shows more than 450,000 people in North Carolina want to work but don’t have jobs.
The jobs picture has improved significantly over the past year, with nearly 41,000 more people drawing paychecks and 47,000 fewer North Carolinians unemployed since August 2011. The state’s unemployment rate is 1 percentage point lower than a year ago.