RALEIGH, N.C. — November marked the fifth straight month of double-digit unemployment in North Carolina as the number of people unable to find a job, though down slightly from a month ago, remained stubbornly high.
 
The state's overall rate decreased in November as the unemployment rate crept downward to 10 percent, from 10.4 percent one month ago. That's still two-tenths of a percent higher than the rate was in November of 2010, as 451,413 North Carolinians remain unemployed.
 
Dale Carroll, Deputy Secretary of the NC Commerce Department said that the private sector had experienced only "moderate growth" over the past year.
 
"“[T]he focus must remain on growing jobs in our state," Carroll said.
 
Total nonfarm jobs grew slightly by 3,800 in November with the private sector gaining 4,600 jobs. The public sector shed 800 jobs.  Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey increased by 3,800 to 3,876,800 in November.
 
The largest over-the-month employment increase occurred in trade, transportation and utilities (+5,400). Since November 2010, private sector jobs have increased by 30,800. Over the year, the government sector had the largest job losses with 11,200.