NC unemployment rate jumps to 5 percent, following national trend

RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina’s unemployment rate jumped to 5 percent in December, following a nationwide trend.

Statistics released Friday by the state Employment Security Commission said the labor force increased in December by 11,469 compared to the year-ago period. There were 224,985 people without jobs in North Carolina.

The state unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in December 2006 and 4.7 percent in November of last year. The national unemployment rate also moved up from 4.7 percent in November to 5 percent in December.

North Carolina’s unemployment rate was last at 5 percent in July.

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