(RALEIGH) -- The number of people unemployed in North Carolina increased by 4,498, to 473,937 in September. The State Employment Security Commission reported the jobless rate ticked up one tenth of a point to 10.5 percent.

The number of people employed in North Carolina did increase slightly in September. “The private sector has added jobs since September of last year,” said ESC Chairman Lynn R. Holmes. “Meanwhile, government jobs have declined, according to the seasonally adjusted data.”

Since September 2010, private sector jobs have increased by 28,400. During this same timeframe, government sector jobs are down by 18,700.

The statewide jobless rate remains well above the national average of 9.1 percent.