State unemployment rate at lowest level in 6 years
North Carolina's unemployment rate hit its lowest level in six years during February, but that didn't have a huge impact on the Triad.
Sure, the region's jobless rate dropped from 5.2 percent in January to 5 percent last month, but the Triad still lags behind the state as a whole - where the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.5 percent in February. In Guilford County, the jobless rate rose last month to 5 percent, from 4.9 percent in January, according to reports from the state's Employment Security Commission.
Guilford was one of 15 counties that saw such hikes last month, as jobless rates fell in 69 counties and remained steady in 16. Rates fell in Alamance, Forsyth and Randolph counties and rose in Rockingham County.
ESC officials touted the statewide unemployment rate drop Friday, saying in a news release that North Carolina's seasonally adjusted jobless rate has not been at or below 4.5 percent since January 2001, when the rate fell to 4.4 percent.
Statewide employment has growth for seven consecutive months, with total seasonally adjusted employment surpassing 4.3 million workers in February. Seasonally adjusted unemployment, statewide, fell by 6,700 workers. Since February 2006, statewide unemployment has fallen by 5,600 workers, and North Carolina has grown employment by more than 117,200 workers.
Here's how jobless rates in the Triad changed from January to February:
* Alamance: Fell 0.3 percent, to 5.3 percent.
* Caswell: Stayed the same, at 7.4 percent.
* Davidson: Fell 0.4 percent, to 5.9 percent.
* Davie: Rose 0.3 percent, to 4.5 percent.
* Forsyth: Fell 0.2 percent, 4.3 percent.
* Guilford: Rose 0.1 percent, to 5 percent.
* Montgomery: Stayed the same, at 6.6 percent.
* Randolph: Fell 0.4 percent, to 4.6 percent.
* Rockingham: Rose 0.1 percent, to 6.8 percent.
* Stokes: Fell 0.2 percent, to 4.9 percent.
* Surry: Fell 0.2 percent, to 5.5 percent.
* Yadkin: Rose 0.1 percent, to 4.6 percent.
The state's next unemployment update will come out April 20.
Comments (1)
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I am a war vet with a 4 year degree and cannot get a meaningful job. I have used all the resources, career counseling, I dress well, show a positive attitude, show kindness and try to say the right things in the interview if I get one. My house needs repair, my cars are falling apart, my sun needs clothes...it's just depressing, real depressing.
Posted on March 30, 2007 3:39 PM