NC unemployment rate reaches 6.9 percent

RALEIGH -- North Carolina's unemployment rate has jumped to its highest level in nearly seven years. The Employment Security Commission said Friday the rate was 6.9 percent in August, up from 6.6 percent in July. That's the highest jobless rate since January 2002. August also was the eighth consecutive month the unemployment rate increased. North Carolina's overall employment decreased by more than 45,200 workers to roughly 4.3 million. In the past year, the number of people without jobs has increased by 102,025 people. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)