State unemployment hits 25-year high

RALEIGH Figures released Friday show the state unemployment rate hit 8.7 percent in December. That's the highest it's been since 1983.

The level of people filing for unemployment compensation overloaded the Employment Security Commission website earlier this month. The agency has since fixed the problem.

Officials say they're seeing significant layoffs and many who work in the housing sector have not been able to find work in months.