(RALEIGH) -- After holding steady at 9.4 percent for three months, North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.6 percent in July, according the the latest figures from the State Division of Employment Security. This puts North Carolina jobless rate at more than a full percentage point above the national rate of 8.3 percent.

“In July the private sector gained 16,000 jobs,” said N.C. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll. “When we focus on long-term growth, North Carolina has added more than 101,000 nonfarm jobs since January 2010."

Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment increased by 1,800 to 3,956,700 in July. The major industry with the largest over-the-month increase was Leisure & Hospitality Services, which gained 5,900.