By By MIKE VOSS
Contributing Editor
Beaufort County’s unemployment rate for January reached 12.3 percent, a 0.4 percent increase from December’s jobless rate of 11.9 percent.
The county’s record unemployment rate of 15 percent occurred in October 1983, according to an ESC spokesman.
Hyde County’s unemployment rate for January was 13.9 percent, up from 12.2 percent in December.
Washington County’s unemployment rate for January was 13.1 percent, up from 12.8 percent in December.
Martin County’s unemployment rate for January was 11.8 percent, up from 10.8 percent in December.
Unemployment rates increased in 99 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in January, according to statistics released by the state’s Employment Security Commission. Lee County remained the same at 14.66 percent for December and January. In January, 41 counties were at or below the state’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 11.8 percent.
“I really don’t,” said Patrick Oswalt, manager of the Employment Security Commission office in Washington, when asked if he believes Beaufort County’s jobless rate will drop below double-digit figures in the near future.
“Flanders (Filters) has announced some hirings. We’ll have to wait and see if that affects the unemployment rate,” Oswalt said.
Oswalt indicated that it’s going to take more than just Flanders Filters hiring employees for the county’s unemployment rate to fall below 10 percent. He expects the jobless rate and filing rate of claims for unemployment-insurance benefits to remain where they’ve been in recent months, no significant movement up or down.
Beaufort County’s work force for January was at 21,349 people. Of that number, 18,719 people were working, with 2,630 people unable to find work. Beaufort County’s work force for December was at 20,805 people, with 18,328 people with jobs and 2,477 people without employment, according to ESC figures.
As of Thursday, Beaufort County residents had received $1,412,426 in unemployment-insurance benefits during the past 30 days. So far this year, Beaufort County residents have received $3,450,900 in benefits.
“The current economy continues to influence nearly every major job sector, mainly in manufacturing and construction,” said ESC Chairman Lynn Holmes in an ESC news release. “In our local employment offices, we see, as well, the impact on our citizens. The action by Congress to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program and the latest implementation of benefits will assist thousands more as they continue to look for work.”
Orange County reported the state’s lowest unemployment rate in January at 6.9 percent. Graham County had the highest jobless rate in January at 19.3 percent.
In January, no county had a jobless rate at or below 5 percent, 14 counties had employment rates between 5 percent and 10 percent and 86 counties had jobless rates higher than 10 percent, according to ESC data.