(The Center Square) – Unemployed North Carolinians increased by 4,616 and those gaining employment increased 1,476.
The figures, not seasonally adjusted, bring those unemployed to 194,278 and those employed to 5,049,879. The statistics are through February, and continue the trend of each having increases in the nation’s ninth-largest state of about 10.8 million, a Wednesday release said.
Seasonal patterns significantly swing employment statistics, the Department of Commerce said in the release. Another update is anticipated in about two weeks.
Month over month, adding about 9,600 professional and business service workers and 9,200 government workers were the leading categories. Manufacturing (added 500) and trade, transportation and utilities jobs (loss of 600) were relatively unchanged.
Thirteen metro areas had unemployment rate increases, with Rocky Mount (5.1%) the highest.
Fifty of the state’s 100 counties had increases in unemployment rates, and 36 went unchanged.
