The state Division of Employment Security released the unemployment rate for May on Friday.  The rate remained at 9.4 percent, which broke a four-month streak of declining unemployment rates. But the total number of unemployed North Carolinians dropped by almost 4,000 people.

The largest number of jobs were created in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector, which added 2,000 jobs. The size of the state work force continues to shrink. Nearly 10,000 workers left the labor force between April and May.

North Carolina's unemployment rate is worse than the national rate, which rose slightly to 8.2 percent in May.