Seasonally adjusted numbers released on Friday show North Carolina’s unemployment rate fell by nearly half a percent.

The rate dropped from 6.7 in September to 6.3 for the month of October. The statewide unemployment rate is still higher than the national average of  5.8 for October.

North Carolina saw the largest job gains in education, health care, hospitality and government. 17,200 jobs were added overall.

Countywide unemployment rates for October will be released on December 9.

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