North Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a point in September, from 6.8 percent in August to 6.7 percent, according to numbers released earlier this week by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

The number of unemployed North Carolinians dropped by about 4,500 people in September – but that’s not necessarily translating into more jobs. In fact the number of employed North Carolinians also dropped in September, by about 5,600 people.

And North Carolina’s unemployment rate continues to lag behind the national average. In March of this year, the state’s unemployment rate had dropped to 6.3 percent, actually below the national rate of 6.7 – but since then, the national rate has dropped to just below 6 percent, while the state’s rate has slightly increased.

Read the full report from the NC Department of Commerce.

Still, unemployment is much lower in North Carolina now than at this time last year. The state’s unemployment rate in September 2013 was 7.7 percent – a full point higher than it is now.

County-by-county unemployment numbers are due to be released on Wednesday.

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