RALEIGH, N.C. -- Unemployment in North Carolina has reached its highest level since August 2005.

The state's jobless rate increased to 5.4 percent in April.

The Employment Security Commission said Friday that North Carolina's unemployment rose .2 percentage points from March. Officials predict jobs will open up during the tourism season.

North Carolina's jobless rate remains higher than the national rate of 5 percent.

Only the education and health services sectors saw any gain in employment.

Meanwhile, South Carolina's jobless rate edged up to 5.9 percent in April, and state officials predict rising gas prices could mean for a rocky summer employment picture.

The Employment Security Commission said Friday that South Carolina's unemployment rose two-tenths of a percent last month.

South Carolina's jobless rate remained higher than the national rate, which dropped one-tenth of a percent in April, to 5 percent.

The construction sector continued a six-month slide, loosing 2,400 jobs last month. The commission said jobs in that industry are down 7,300 from a year ago.

Beaufort, Charleston and Lexington counties all rated the state's lowest jobless rate, at 3.9 percent. Allendale County's rate remained the highest, at 13.5 percent.