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State’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 9.3 Percent in October, Sen. Hagan: ‘Pleased, But Still Work to Do’

Nov. 16, 2012. North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.3 of a percentage point in October to 9.3 percent. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 7.9 percent. North Carolina’s October 2012 unemployment rate is 1.3 percentage points lower than a year ago.

The number of people employed (smoothed seasonally adjusted) increased 43,699 to 4,269,351 over the month, and 95,425 over the year.

Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased 8,000 to 3,964,800 in October. The major industry with the largest over-the-month increase was Leisure & Hospitality Services, which gained 3,600 jobs, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, adding 2,900 jobs, and Manufacturing, 2,600. Construction also reported an increase of 1,800 jobs.

Since October 2011, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 35,700 with the Service Providing sector increasing by 36,800, and Goods Producing decreasing 1,100. The largest over-the-year increase of major industries was in Trade, Transpor¬tation & Utilities, 11,800, followed by Leisure & Hospitality Services, 10,800; Professional & Business Services, 9,100; and Education & Health Services, 6,400.

On Friday, Nov. 16, U.S. Senator Kay Hagan released the following statement today on the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Labor and Economic Analysis Division report that the state’s unemployment rate fell to 9.3 percent in October, down from 9.6 percent in September: 

“While I’m pleased with today’s jobs report, we still have much more work to do to put North Carolinians back to work.  We have an opportunity during this lame duck session to come together in a bipartisan way to address the serious issues facing our country and help North Carolina’s economy grow more rapidly.  

“As I’ve traveled to every county in our state as part of my ‘Conversations with Kay’ series, the top concern I’ve heard from folks has been jobs, jobs, jobs. Job creation will continue to be my top priority, and I am committed to working with both Democrats and Republicans to find solutions that will help middle-class families and businesses in our state thrive.”

For more information, visit ncesc.com.