State unemployment rate dips slightly in October to 10.4 percent

After rising for four consecutive months, the state's unemployment rate dipped slightly in October to 10.4 percent, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by N.C. Division of Employment Security.

The rate was 10.5 percent in September.

The state added 5,500 jobs in October, the majority -- 4,800 of them -- were government jobs.

Government job numbers have fluctuated wildly in recent months, falling 11,800 in July and rising by more than any other sector in August as teachers returned to work after the summer vacation.

The number of people unemployed in the state in October declined 8,273 to 466,568.

North Carolina's unemployment rate remains well above the national rate of 9 percent.

The state's unemployment rate in Oct. 2011 was 9.9 percent.