RALEIGH — Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 69 of North Carolina’s counties in June, increased in four, and remained unchanged in 27, according the N.C. Department of Commerce. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.6 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.2 percent.
Nine of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases and six remained unchanged. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 6.4 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.4 percent. The June not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.2 percent.
Counties With Rates 5 percent or below: 72
Counties With Rates Between 5 percent and 10 percent: 28
Counties With Rates 10% or Above: 0
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in all 100 counties. All fifteen metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in June by 509 to 4,708,854, while those unemployed decreased 4,343 to 208,449.
Since June 2016, the number of workers employed statewide increased 84,212, while those unemployed decreased 44,241.
It is important to note that employment estimates are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.
Southeastern North Carolina county’s unemployment figures: Bladen 5.7, Brunswick 4.8, Columbus 5.2, Sampson 4.5, Robeson 6.2, Duplin 4.6, Pender 4.4.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, August 18 when the state unemployment rate for July 2017 will be released.
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