North Carolina&squo;s unemployment rate increased to 9.7 percent in January, according to statistics released today by the N.C. Employment Security Commission. The rate increased by 1.6 percent after annual revisions lowered the December rate to 8.1 percent. The rate is at its highest mark since March 1983 when it was at 10 percent.

&dquo;During these difficult times, the ESC continues to make sure that services are delivered through our local offices, by phone and the Internet,&dquo; said ESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. &dquo;We have added staff and are working extra hours to make sure that our customers receive the best service possible. While many job sectors have faced cutbacks and layoffs, Manufacturing and Construction continue to experience the most loss.&dquo;

Seasonally adjusted employment decreased by 98,624 workers to 4,109,016. Unemployment increased by 73,396 workers, to 443,069. The number of workers who were unemployed, but actively seeking work, remains at an all-time high. Since this time last year, unemployment has increased by 215,362 people. Employment is down by 180,177 workers since January 2008. The state rate in January 2008 was 5 percent.

Seasonally adjusted, total non-farm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, decreased by 38,000 jobs over the past month and has decreased by 157,500 since January 2008 ‐ to 4,010,200. The largest over-the-month increase occurred in Financial Actvities (+1,200). The largest decrease was in Manufacturing

(-11,500) and Construction (-10,300).