(RALEIGH) -- Nearly 200,000 North Carolinians receive unemployment benefits, but some recipients will soon see their benefits evaporate. Larry Parker of the State Division of Employment Security said about 17,000 people will soon not be eligible for extended benefits.

"North Carolina no longer meets the criteria to remain on the program, so we are now working as quickly as we can to notify those folks who are on extended benefits that this program will end the week ending May 12," said Parker.

Federal guidelines require that the Extended Benefits program be subject to labor market conditions in each state. North Carolina is no longer eligible for the Extended Benefits program based on improving employment conditions.