Unemployment rate for state 9.4% in June

North Carolina's June unemployment rate was 9.4 percent, unchanged for the third straight month, according to figures released Friday from the state Commerce Department.

That’s lower than a year ago, when the unemployment rate in June 2011 was 10.6 percent, but still higher than the rest of the nation.

The national unemployment rate for June was 8.2 percent. North Carolina’s unemployment rate has hovered above the national figure for the past year.

The number of people employed dropped by 7,909 to 4,216,644 over the month, but has increased by 60,223 over the year, according to state figures.

June’s unemployment rates at the county level are scheduled to be released next week.