RALEIGH, NC — The number of people employed in North Carolina was virtually unchanged from a month ago. The rate decreased slightly in October as unemployment dropped from September's 12-month high-water mark of 10.5 percent to October's 10.4 percent.
 
North Carolina's unemployment rate remains far above the national average, which is still a staggering 9.0 percent.
 
"[T]here was a modest decline in the unemployment rate, but there is still a great deal of work ahead,” said Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security Assistant Secretary Lynn R. Holmes. “None of us will be satisfied until every North Carolinian who wants a job has one.”
 
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey increased by 5,500 to 3,871,300 in October.
 
The number of people unemployed decreased by 8,273 to 466,568. The number of people employed increased by 5,730 (seasonally adjusted), to 4,038,266. Since this time last year, the number of people unemployed has increased by 25,868. The state unemployment rate in October 2010 was 9.9 percent.
 
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Thursday, December 1, when the county unemployment rates for the month of October will be released.