CHARLOTTE--Sherell Lewis has been out of work since December of 2010 and she can't understand why.

"I'm trying to think of anything that I can do just to get a foot in the door somewhere," said Lewis.

But the jobs Lewis says she is applying for may not be there. The latest unemployment numbers show in the month of May, unemployment rates increased for 76 North Carolina counties. Jobs in the field of business, education and even healthcare are down, especially in Mecklenburg County. However, jobs in the hospitality and tourism industry are up.

"I contribute it primarily to the DNC," said Holly Cooper with Goodwill Industries. "Most of the hotels will be booked for a period of time. So you have to hire people in advance and train them properly for the DNC."

Cooper says layoffs and mergers in the teaching, banking and healthcare industries explain the shift in unemployment numbers. She says it's critical for job seekers to pay attention to the numbers and make sure they have the necessary skills to compete.

Lewis says she plans to do just that.

"I will work my way up and I will do whatever it takes because I need income," said Lewis.

The state average for unemployment is 9.4%.