NC unemployment rate hits new high

North Carolina has hit a dubious record. Our unemployment rate hit 11.1 percent in May, hitting a new peak since the state started such measurements more than 30 years ago.

The state’s jobless rate a year ago was 5.9 percent.

The State Employment Security Commission said Friday the number of unemployed North Carolinians topped 500,000, an all-time high.

After a long run in which government was one of the safest places to work, the sector shed 4,000 employees in May.

Manufacturing continued to suffer as companies cut 3,800 workers.