RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s unemployment rate fell for the fifth consecutive month in February.
The state Commerce Department announced on Friday that the seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 5.7% last month, compared to 5.9% in January.
The U.S. rate in February was 6.2%.
The state rate hit 13.5% last spring when severe business restrictions kicked in at the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic a year ago.
The number of employed workers last month rose by 4,800 compared to January, while unemployment totals fell by close to 11,000 people.
The state rate still has a way to go down to meet pre-pandemic levels.
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