North Carolina’s official unemployment rate climbed to 9.9 percent in June, according to new information from the N.C. Employment Security Commission. That’s an increase of 0.2 percentage points. It’s the highest official rate for North Carolina since October.
The ESC news release on the topic emphasizes government job losses. “Government jobs decreased by 10,200 in June, including 7,600 in state government. This includes jobs lost in community colleges and universities. In comparison to the same time last year, there has been an increase in claims in state and local government. This is largely due to an increase in claims in both local and state education.”
Don Carrington’s July Carolina Journal cover story offered a good comparison of private- and public-sector job losses since the start of the economic downturn.
Public sector employment levels in North Carolina have been stable since the start of the recession in December 2007. It would take a loss of 63,000 government jobs to match the nearly 9 percent net loss that has occurred in the private sector during that time.
