The state Commerce Department released the numbers for June on Friday morning. The unemployment numbers remain higher than the national average, which was 8.2 percent in June.

 

North Carolina's unemployment rate last month was unchanged from April and May. 

An additional 2,500 North Carolinians were unemployed compared to the last month, but the work force decreased, keeping the rate unchanged.

 

The state unemployment rate has declined by 1.2 percentage points since June 2011.

 

Some of North Carolina's political leaders are gathering Friday to talk jobs in Raleigh. U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, the president of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, and the head of the state's community college system are discussing job creation efforts.