North Carolina's jobless rate has inched up for the fourth month as it diverges from the declining national rate.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce said Tuesday that the unemployment rate for June was 5.8 percent, a slight increase from the previous month. The May rate was 5.7 percent.
Nationally, unemployment fell to 5.3 percent representing the third month it was lower that North Carolina's.
Seasonally adjusted figures show the state's labor force grew slightly since May. The growing workforce has been a positive sign for the state's economy.
The state's unemployment remains lower than it was a year ago, and the size of the workforce is also larger.
The jobless rate began inching up in March after months of declines.
