NC jobless rate falls to 11.1 percent in March from worst-ever 11.2 percent, more have jobs

NC jobless rate drops to 11.1 percent in March

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s unemployment rate dipped slightly in March even though more workers entered the labor market with hopes they could now find a job.

The state’s Employment Security Commission on Friday reported that the unemployment rate for March dipped a fraction to 11.1 percent, down from 11.2 percent in February.

The new unemployment data also showed there were nearly 2,800 fewer people on the unemployment rolls in March than the month before. An additional 18,000 people have jobs.

Campbell University business school dean Ben Hawkins says another hopeful sign is that manufacturing workers were asked to put in longer hours. He says the more companies push their people, the greater the pressure to hire extra workers.