North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.1 percent in December 2012, up to 9.2 percent, according to a report released by the North Carolina Department of Commerce - Labor and Economic Analysis Division on Friday.
National unemployment remained the same, at 7.8 percent. The statewide December 2012 unemployment rate is 1.2 percentage points lower than a year ago. The number of people employed in North Carolina increased by 10,398 to 4,314,479 over the month, and 121,487 from last year. The number of people unemployed rose by 6,997 to 438,864, and decreased 45,380 from the same time period last year.
Education and health services saw the largest employee gain in December, at 5,900, followed by professional and business services, with 5,000; manufacturing, 700; information, 500; and construction, 400. Major industries that experienced decreases included: financial activities, which was down 2,000; leisure and hospitality services, down 1,300; trade, transportation and utilities, 500; government, 400; other services, 300; and mining and logging, 100.
December 2012 county unemployment rates are scheduled to be released Jan. 30.







