NC Jobless Rate Falls In February For 5th Straight Month

North Carolina’s unemployment rate fell for the fifth consecutive month in February. The state Commerce Department announced on Friday that the seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 5.7% last month, compared to 5.9% in January. The U.S. rate in February was 6.2%. The state rate hit 13.5% last spring when severe business restrictions kicked in at the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic a year ago. The number of employed workers last month rose by 4,800 compared to January, while unemployment totals fell by close to 11,000 people. The state rate still has a way to go down to meet pre-pandemic levels.