North Carolina's jobless rate drops to 4.3 percent in May

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina's unemployment rate dropped slightly last month, continuing a slow decline.

The state Commerce Department reported Friday that May's jobless rate was 4.3 percent in May, down from 4.4 percent in April, which was the first decline after staying stable for six months.

The national unemployment rate in May was 3.8 percent.

Statistics from the Commerce Department show North Carolina added more than 12,000 jobs in May, with most of them coming in professional and business services and trade, transportation and utilities.

North Carolina saw a drop in the number of leisure and hospitality jobs in May.

Associated Press