(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina Senate Democratic Leader Martin Nesbitt issued the following statement regarding the July employment report released by the North Carolina Employment Security Commission. The report showed a jump in the state unemployment rate to 10.1 percent driven by thousands of layoffs of teachers and educators.

"This bleak report shows just how far the GOP has turned back the clock on job creation in North Carolina. For the second month in a row, the North Carolina economy would have added jobs if it weren't for the dramatic layoffs caused by the job-killing GOP budget," Nesbitt said.

"We have a long way to go to climb ourselves out of this recession. By cutting nearly $1 billion from public education and sending North Carolina to 49th in per student funding - behind South Carolina and Mississippi - Republicans just keep digging the hole deeper," he added.

"Right now, more than ever, North Carolina needs more investment in education and a focus on job creation. This report shows Republicans' plans have deeply hurt our schools and killed jobs," Nesbitt concluded.