Unemployment climbs slightly in NC

January 24, 2011 8:05:41 AM PST

RALEIGH --

North Carolina's unemployment rate ticked up a tenth of a percent in December to 9.8 percent. It was 9.7 percent in November.

In a news release Monday, the state's Employment Security Commission said the number of people employed (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 2,121 workers to 4,031,490. The number of people unemployed increased by 4,385 workers, to 439,167.

While the number is an increase over the previous month, the state unemployment rate in December 2009 was 10.9 percent.