NC’s unemployment rate at 11.1% in January

North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased to 11.1 percent in January, according to statistics released today by the state’s Employment Security Commission. The rate increased from 10.9 percent in December.

“North Carolina gained 8,000 jobs in January,” said ESC Chairman Lynn Holmes. “However, we must be cautious and realize that we have a long way to go to get back to pre-recession employment levels. In the meantime, Congress has extended the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program through April 5 and we will begin paying Tier IV benefits on March 17 to those eligible.”

Seasonally adjusted, total non-farm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased by 8,000 jobs over the past month to 3,894,300. The largest over-the-month increase occurred in Trade, Transportation & Utilities (+8,000). The largest decrease was in Construction (-5,000). Since January 2009, non-farm employment has decreased by 114,200 jobs.

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