RALEIGH — North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point in August to 9.7 percent. The national rate declined 0.2 of a percentage point to 8.1 percent. North Carolina’s August 2012 unemployment rate is 1.0 percentage point lower than a year ago.

“Looking at the data long-term, North Carolina has added nearly 98,000 non-farm jobs since January 2010,” said N.C. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll. “Our workforce partners and our employment service offices across our state are committed to helping employers put citizens back to work in North Carolina.”

Seasonally adjusted total non-farm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased by 1,100 to 3,953,400 in August. The major industry with the largest over-the-month increase was government, which gained 8,400. Since August 2011, total non-farm jobs gained 27,800 with the service providing sector increasing by 31,700, and the goods producing sector decreasing 3,900. The largest over-the-year increase of major industries was in trade, transportation and utilities at 12,600, followed by education and health services at 10,400, and professional and business services, 7,000.

The number of people employed (smoothed seasonally adjusted) decreased by 5,801 to 4,196,322 over the month, but increased by 40,635 over the year. The state unemployment rate in August 2011 was 10.7 percent.

The next unemployment update is scheduled for Sept. 28, when the county unemployment rates for August will be released.