NC jobless rate dips to 10 percent

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina's unemployment rate has dipped to 10 percent, the lowest since June, as the private sector added roughly 4,600 jobs.

The state Employment Security Commission said Tuesday the jobless rate last month declined from 10.4 percent in October, but still remains higher than the 8.6 percent national average.

Deputy Commerce Secretary Dale Carroll says it's a significant drop, but the state still needs to focus on creating jobs.

While the private sector gained jobs, the public sector lost about 800 jobs, leaving a net gain of around 3,800 jobs in November.

North Carolina has more than 451,000 people listed as unemployed statewide and more than 4 million at work.

The unemployment rate a year ago was slightly lower, standing at 9.8 percent.