03/28/2024
Spread the love

RALEIGH — Bladen County and the rest of North Carolina’s 99 counties saw not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decrease in April, the N.C. Department of Commerce reported Wednesday. Bladen County’s rate was 4.4%, which was down from 5% in March. The statewide rate was 3.6%.

Hyde County had the highest not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April at 8.1 percent, according to the report. Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.7%.

All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases, the report showed. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 4.9% had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 2.8%.

Some southeastern North Carolina counties and their rates: Brunswick 4.5%, Columbus 4.5%, Cumberland 4.6%, Duplin 3.8%, New Hanover 3.3%, Pender 3.6%, Robeson 5.0% and Sampson 3.5%.

The number of workers employed statewide, not seasonally adjusted, increased in April by 25,602 to 4,884,935, while those unemployed decreased 26,548 to 179,910, according to the report. Since April 2018, the number of workers employed statewide increased 90,162, while those unemployed decreased 327.

The Commerce Department notes that employment estimates are subject to large seasonal patterns and suggests it’s best to focus on year-over-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.

The next unemployment update is scheduled for June 21 when the state unemployment rate for May 2019 will be released.

About Author