RALEIGH, NC — Private-sector employers in North Carolina added nearly 13,000 jobs in July, but the state's unemployment rate ticked up for the fifth straight month.

The State Commerce Department's report released Friday the state's jobless rate rose one tenth from June to 5.9 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate for July was 5.3 percent, unchanged from the month before.

North Carolina’s July 2015 unemployment rate was 0.2 of a percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 11,743 over the month to 4,482,155, and increased 135,790 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 3,328 over the month to 279,968, and declined 2,043 over the year.

The next unemployment update is scheduled for Tuesday, September 1, 2015 when the county unemployment rates for July 2015 will be released.