N.C. unemployment rate dips slightly to 10.8% in November (WRAL.com)
Raleigh, N.C. — The jobless rate in North Carolina dipped again slightly in November to 10.8 percent, the state Employment Security Commission reported Friday.
The unemployment rate fell below 11 percent to 10.9 percent when the percentage was revised downward from previous reports.
Employment in the state grew by 12,453 people while unemployment dropped by 6,823, the ESC reported.
However, the ESC also noted that initial claims for unemployment benefits jumped by 14 percent, or more than 10,500, in November to 88,938 from October.
Of the new claims, some 53 percent were “attached,” which implies the companies laying off those workers expect to rehire them.
State Employment Security Commission Chairman Moses Carey Jr. stressed that more jobs are needed.
“Even though employment increased slightly over the month, we still need more job growth,” Carey said in a statement. “It’s another month where we haven’t experienced much change.
The unemployment rate a year ago stood at 7.5 percent.
Nationally, the jobless rate slipped slightly in November to 10 percent.
North Carolina did add 1,900 education and health services and 800 construction jobs last month but lost some 4,800 jobs in leisure and hospitality and another 3,900 in manufacturing.
The average hourly wage fell 13 cents to $15.78 in November, but the average number of hours worked grew to 39.5 from 39.1 the previous month.
Posted: Today at 10:32 a.m.
Updated: Today at 10:52 a.m.
