State jobless rate unchanged in September at 10.8 percent

By: Richard Craver | McDowell News
Published: October 16, 2009

The state's jobless rate was unchanged in September at 10.8 percent, the N.C. Employment Security Commission reported today.

However, it is the eighth consecutive month that the figure has been higher than 10 percent, peaking at 11.1 percent in May.

Moses Carey Jr., the chairman of the commission, said that although it is positive news that the rate did not increase during September, "the fact that the unemployment rate remains about the same as it has been for months is a sobering point."

"We are hopeful that new job announcements by Gov. Bev Perdue will continue to help fill in the gaps made by announced layoffs."

The commission reported that there was a 12,553 increase in the state's work force during September to 4.53 million.

The commission reported there was a gain of 13,000 government jobs in September. Most of that increase likely was public-school teachers having their contracts renewed, thus being counted as employed again.

However, there still were 2,857 more North Carolinians considered as unemployed during the month compared with August, or 491,766 overall.

The state had a loss of 6,500 jobs in the trade, transportation and utilities sectors, 4,800 in professional and business services and 1,700 in educational and health services.

One bright spot was a net gain of 2,200 jobs in construction after months of job decline.