RALEIGH — North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased to 9.8 percent in July, according to statistics released today by the state’s Employment Security Commission. The rate was 10 percent in June. Total non-farm jobs decreased by 29,800.

“Job growth across all sectors continues to be a challenge,” said ESC Chairman Lynn R. Holmes. “We experienced job growth in some sectors but had a large loss in government due mostly to declines in local school employment.

We would like to see more consistent growth throughout all job sectors. Our staff across the state continues to focus its efforts on providing assistance to those looking for work and in need of benefits.”

Seasonally adjusted, total non-farm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, decreased by 29,800 jobs over the past month to 3,895,300. The largest over-the-month increase occurred in Trade, Transportation & Utilities (+2,800). The largest decrease was in Government (- 7,300). Since July 2009, non-farm employment has increased by 6,000 jobs.

The number of people employed (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 19,442 workers to 4,069,757. The number of people unemployed decreased by 16,170 workers, to 440,387.

Since this time last year, the number of people unemployed has decreased by 56,266 people. The number of workers employed is up 34,088 since July 2009. The state unemployment rate in July 2009 was 11 percent.

The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, August 27, when the county unemployment rates for the month of July will be released.