North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point in September to 9.6 percent, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce. The national rate declined 0.3 of a percentage point to 7.8 percent. North Carolina’s September 2012 unemployment rate is 1.1 percentage point lower than a year ago.

The number of people employed increased by 29,232 to 4,225,436 over the month, and by 61,656 over the year. The state unemployment rate in September 2011 was 10.7 percent.

The major industry with the largest over-the-month increase was professional and business services, which gained 6,000, followed by construction, which added 1,100 jobs. Since September 2010, North Carolina gained 79,300 non-farm jobs.

Seasonally adjusted total non-farm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased by 100 to 3,953,000 in September, the department said. Since September 2011, total non-farm jobs gained 31,500.

Watauga County, unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in August 2012, down from 8.8 percent in July 2012 and 9 percent in August 2011.

County unemployment rates for September 2012 will be released Friday, Nov. 2.