Beaufort County’s unemployment rate declined from 11.3 percent in September to 10.6 percent in October, a drop of 0.07 percent, according to figures released by the N.C Division of Employment Security.
Eighty-two other counties saw their unemployment rates fall from September to October, according to ESC information. Jobless rates increased in 12 of the state’s 100 counties from September to October, with five counties seeing no change in their jobless rates during the same period.
Beaufort County’s unemployment rate has been above 10 percent for all of 2011.
“The only thing that has been different is some of the construction folks have gone back to work,” said Patrick Oswalt, supervisor of the DES office in Washington, to explain the decline in the jobless rate from September to October.
As he’s said each month for more than a year, Oswalt expects the area’s unemployment rate to continue to fluctuate by less than a percentage point each month in the coming months.
In October, North Carolina had 42 counties at or below its unemployment rate of 9.7 percent, according to DES data.
“October data showed a decrease in all of the state’s metropolitan areas,” said DES Assistant Secretary Lynn R. Holmes. “While unemployment rates dropped in most counties, there are counties that are higher than 10 percent. We continue to work with our workforce partners in assisting our customers in job-search assistance in our DES offices and JobLink Career Centers across the state.”
Beaufort County’s (civilian) work force for October totaled 21,374 people, with 2,268 of that number unable to secure employment, according to ESC data. Beaufort County’s work force for September totaled 20,813 people, according to DES figures. Out of that work force, 2,338 people were unemployed.
Hyde County’s jobless rate fell 0.04 percent from 8.5 percent in September to 8.1 percent in October, according to DES data.
Hyde County’s October work force came to 2,915 people, with 236 of them unable to find work, according to DES information. In September, Hyde County’s work force came to 3,139 people, with 259 people unable to secure employment, according to DES data.
The jobless rate in Martin County declined 1.1 percent from September to October, dropping from 11.9 percent to 10.8 percent, according to DES figures.
In October, Martin County’s work force totaled 11,249 people, with 1,218 of that number without jobs, according to DES figures. Martin County’s work force was 10,655 people strong in September, with 1,245 of that number without jobs, according to DES data.
The unemployment rate in Washington County rose 0.03 percent from September to October, changing from 11.8 percent to 12.1 percent, according to DES information.
Washington County’s October work force tallied 6,473 people, but 783 of them were unemployed, according to DES data. Washington County’s work force in September came to 6,851 people, with 808 of those people unable to find work, according to DES information.
For October, not one county had a jobless rate at 5 percent or below. There were 47 counties with unemployment rates between 5 percent and 10 percent. Fifty-three counties had unemployment rates at 10 percent or higher, according to DES figures.
Of the state’s 100 counties, Currituck County had the lowest jobless rate in October at 5.4 percent. Scotland County had the highest jobless rate in October at 16.6 percent.