N.C. unemployment rates decline in 72 counties
Unemployment rates decreased in 72 of North Carolina’s 100
counties in August, increased in 18, and were unchanged in 10.
When compared to the same
month last year, unemployment rates declined in 92 counties, increased in six, and remained the same
in two.
North Carolina had 39 counties that were at or below the state’s not seasonally
adjusted unemployment rate of 9.7 percent. Unemployment rates decreased in 13 of the state’s 14
Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The rate increased in the Fayetteville Metropolitan Statistical
Area.
The number of workers employed (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in August by 29,377
to 4,219,378, while those unemployed fell 12,777 to 451,806. Since August 2011, the number of
workers unemployed decreased 51,092, while those employed increased 52,752.
Watauga County’s
August rate of 8.3 percent dropped .5 percent from July. Ashe County’s rate of 11 percent for August
saw a .1 percent increase from the previous month, while Avery County’s August rate of 10.4 percent
dropped .3 percent from July.
Currituck County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate in
August at 4.7 percent, and Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 17.2
percent.
