By Staff
Hyde County sees
a 2.5 percent drop
By MIKE VOSS
Contributing Editor
Unemployment rates for March fell in Beaufort, Hyde, Martin and Washington counties when compared to jobless rates in February.
The state’s jobless rate for March was 5.2 percent, a 0.2 percent decrease when compared to February’s unemployment rate of 5.4 percent, according to data released by the N.C. Employment Security Commission.
Hyde County, which had the state’s highest unemployment rate in February at 11.8 percent, saw its jobless rate fall to 9.3 percent in March, a drop of 2.5 percent.
Beaufort County’s unemployment rate for March was 6 percent, a drop of 0.2 percent from February’s jobless rate of 6.2 percent.
Martin County’s jobless rate for March was 5.5 percent, a 0.2 percent drop from February’s unemployment rate of 5.7 percent.
Washington County’s unemployment rate fell from 7.3 percent in February to 6.9 percent in March, a 0.4 percent decline.
In Beaufort County, the work force for March was at 21,714 people, with 20,402 of them with jobs. That left 1,312 people unable to find work.
In Hyde County, there were 2,464 people in the labor force during March, with 2,236 of them employed. That left 228 members of the labor force unable to find jobs.
In Martin County, there were 12,046 people in the labor force during March, with 11,388 of them employed. That left 658 members of the work force unable to find jobs.
In Washington County, there were 6,358 people in the labor force during March, with 5,919 of them employed. That left 439 members of the labor force unable to find employment.
Across the state, there were 4,515,648 people in the labor force during March, with 4,279,882 of them employed. That left 235,766 members of the work force unable to secure employment.
Eighty-six of North Carolina ’s 100 counties experienced unemployment rate decreases in March, according to statistics released by the Employment Security Commission. Rates increased in seven counties and remained the same in seven counties.
Across the state, total county employment (not-seasonally adjusted) increased in March by 24,035 workers from 4,255,847 to 4,279,882. Not-seasonally adjusted unemployment decreased by 8,478 workers. The unemployment total in March was 235,766 compared with 244,244 in February.
In March, 33 counties had jobless rates less than 5 percent. Sixty-seven counties had unemployment rates from 5 percent to 10 percent.
In February, 18 counties had jobless rates less than 5 percent. Eighty-one counties had unemployment rates from 5 percent to 10 percent. One county had a jobless rate over 10 percent.
For March, Orange County has the state’s lowest jobless rate at 3.4 percent. For that same month, Scotland County had the highest jobless rate in the state at 9.6 percent.