— More people were listed as unemployed in North Carolina in May, contributing to a rise in the state's unemployment rate, according to data released Friday by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

More than 12,600 new people were listed as unemployed during the month, pushing the state's unemployment rate up to 5.7 percent. The state rate has ticked up steadily since dropping to as low as 5.3 percent in January and February.

The national unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in May.

The state's labor force – the number of people employed plus those actively looking for work – increased by 29,396 in May, to 4,770,856, likely contributing to the increase in the state's unemployment rate.

Nonfarm employers added a total of 10,400 jobs during the month, with professional and business services, education and health services and construction seeing large gains. The trade, transportation and utilities sectors saw losses.