Jobless rate up slightly
Published 1:39 am Sunday, June 26, 2011
Beaufort County’s unemployment rate increased from 10.3 percent in April to 10.5 percent in May, an increase of 0.2 percent, according to figures released by the N.C. Employment Security Commission.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percent from April to May, going from 9.6 percent in April to 9.7 percent in May. Of the state’s 100 counties, jobless rates decreased in 40 counties, increased in 44 counties and remained the same in 16 counties from April to May, according to ESC data.
“Season hiring has begun to increase in some areas of North Carolina,” said ESC Chairman Lynn R. Holmes in an ESC news release. “We experienced growth in several of our industrial sectors last month and over the year. We continue to focus on growing jobs and working with our economic, education and workforce development partners. Our offices remain committed to assisting job-seekers and employers.”
Beaufort County’s work force in May totaled 20,666 people. Of that number, 18,506 were working, according to ESC data. That left 2,160 people without jobs. Beaufort County’s work force for April totaled, 20,290 people. Of that number, 18,204 people were on the job, with 2,086 people unable to secure employment, according to ESC figures.
Hyde County’s work force for May was reported at 3,084 people, with 2,863 members of that work force on the job. That left 221 people from that work force unemployed, according to ESC figures. The work force in Hyde County for April was reported at 2,875 people, with 2,632 members of that work force with jobs. That left 243 people unable to find work, according to ESC figures.
The work force in Martin County for May totaled 11,086 people. Of that number, 9,902 people were working, according to ESC numbers. Of that work force, 1,184 were jobless. Martin County’s work force for April totaled 10,996 people, with 9,827 of those people working, leaving 1,169 people unable to secure employment, according to ESC information.
In Washington County during May, the work force totaled 6,999 people, according to ESC data. Out of that work force, 791 people were unemployed, leaving 6,208 people working that month. The work force in Washington County for April was reported at 6,886 people. Of that work force, 6,119 people were working. That left 767 people unable to locate work, according to ESC figures.
For May, no county had a jobless rate at 5 percent or below. There were 48 counties with unemployment rates between 5 percent and 10 percent. Fifty-two counties had unemployment rates at 10 percent or higher, according to ESC figures.
Currituck County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate in May at 5.6 percent. Scotland County had the state’s highest unemployment rate in May at 16.2 percent.
From June 2010 through May 2011 in Beaufort County, $21,576,546 in unemployment-insurance benefits have been paid. During that same period, slightly more than $4.7 billion in unemployment insurance benefits have been paid statewide.
Area Jobless Rates
At A Glance
Beaufort County
May 2011: 10.5%
April 2011: 10.3%
Change: + 0.2%
Hyde County
May 2011: 7.2%
April 2011: 8.5%
Change: – 1.3%
Martin County
May 2011: 10.7%
April 2011: 10.7%
Change: None
Washington County
May 2011: 11.3%
April 2011: 11.2%
Change: +0.1%
Source: N.C. Employment Security
Commission