Unemployment rates decline in 76 counties in October
According to the N.C. Employment Security Commission,
unemployment rates decreased in 76 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in October, increased in 16 and
were unchanged in eight.
When compared to the same month last year, unemployment rates
declined in 98 counties.
North Carolina had 39 counties that were at or below the state’s not
seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 8.8 percent. Unemployment rates decreased in all 14 of the
state’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
The number of workers employed (not seasonally
adjusted) increased in October by 51,810 to 4,343,583, while those unemployed fell 5,314 to 416,631.
Since October 2011, the number of workers unemployed decreased 64,511, while those employed
increased 142,497.
Watauga County’s October rate of 7.3 remained the same as in September.
Ashe County’s October rate of 11.2 percent saw a 1 percent increase from the previous month, while
Avery County’s rate of 9.5 percent dropped .4 points from September.
Currituck County had
the state’s lowest unemployment rate in October at 5.5 percent, and Scotland County had the highest
unemployment rate at 15.7 percent.
