State’s September unemployment rate at 9.6 percent

North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point in September to 9.6 percent, but remains greater than the national unemployment rate for the same time.

The national rate declined 0.3 of a percentage point to 7.8 percent.

The state’s September unemployment rate is 1.1-percentage point lower than a year ago.

In North Carolina, the number of people employed (smoothed seasonally adjusted) increased by 29,232 to 4,225,436 during the month, and by 61,656 during the year.

The state unemployment rate in September 2011 was 10.7 percent.

For Brunswick County, the last unemployment numbers released were for August, at which time the county had a 10.5 percent unemployment rate. County unemployment rates for September are to be released on Friday, Nov. 2.

Statewide in September, seasonally adjusted total non-farm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased by 100 to 3,953,000 in September.

The major industry with the largest over-the-month increase was professional and business services, which gained 6,000, followed by construction, adding 1,100 jobs. Since September 2010, North Carolina has gained 79,300 non-farm jobs, according the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Since September 2011, total non-farm jobs gained 31,500 with the service-providing sector increasing by 38,900, and the goods-producing sector decreasing 7,400. The largest over-the-year increase of major industries was in professional and business services at 15,700, followed by education and health services, 12,100, and trade, trans­portation and utilities, 9,600.

Preliminary average hourly earnings in North Carolina for manufacturing production workers increased by 31 cents in September to $16.65. Average weekly earnings rose $16.01 from $668.31 to $684.32.

 The state paid $218.2 million in unemployment insurance benefits (all programs) to claimants in September, which includes state and federally funded benefits. The number of initial claims filed in the state for unemployment insurance benefits decreased in September to 42,362.