(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina's unemployment rate fell in February to 9.9 percent. That's down from 10.2 percent in January.  The jobless rate in the Tar Heel State hasn't been below 10 percent in over a year. North Carolina gained 8,300 jobs in February.

“North Carolina continues to gain jobs,” said N.C. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll. “The state has gained 112,000 jobs over the past two years."
 
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm industry employment increased to 3,962,400 in February. Since February 2011, total nonfarm jobs gained 47,000 jobs and the private sector showed an increase of 44,200 jobs. The largest over the year gain in Trade, Transportation & Utilities which increased 11,700 jobs and the second largest increase occurred in Education & Health Services which was up 10,900.