Beaufort County’s jobless rate increased from 8.1 percent in July to 8.3 percent in August, according to figures released this week by the N.C. Department of Labor

In August 2013, Beaufort County’s unemployment rate was at 9.5 percent, according to NCDL information.

Unemployment rates in 73 other of the state’s 100 counties also increased from July to August, while 12 counties experienced decreases in their jobless rates. Fourteen counties saw no change in their unemployment rates for that same period, according to NCDL data.

Jennie Bowen, manager of the Beaufort County JobLink Career Center (taking the place of the former the Employment Security Commission), said she expected Beaufort County’s jobless rate not to change much from July to August.

“When you look at the total labor force difference, it’s difference of about 500 people, as far as what’s counted in the labor force. There’s only five people difference in the number of unemployed,” she said. “My assumption would be those may be the discouraged workers who are actually no longer receiving unemployment or maybe have temporarily dropped out of the work force. I don’t know if that would have any impact as well on the number of people who worked seasonally and returned to school in August.”

Employment, especially seasonal work, could improve as the Christmas season approaches, she noted.

“We do have a couple of companies that are doing a little bit more hiring. Things seem to be loosening up with a few of our businesses. We are seeing a few more job orders come in and more openings, some of them are part-time, but they are opening,” Bowen said.

Beaufort County’s work force totaled 19,396 people. Of that number, 1,616 of those people were unable to secure employment.

North Carolina’s unemployment rate rose from 6.9 percent in July to 7 percent in August, according to NCDL figures. In August 2013, the state’s jobless rate was at 7.9 percent.

For August, Hyde County’s jobless rate was at 6 percent, up from 5.4 percent in July and down from 6.9 percent in August 2013. Martin County’s unemployment rate increased from 8 percent in July to 8.1 percent in August. Its jobless rate for August 2013 was at 9.5 percent. Washington County’s jobless rate was at 7.4 percent in August, down from 8.5 percent in July. Its jobless rate for August 2013 was 9.3 percent. Pitt County’s jobless rate for August was 7.4 percent, the same rate it had in July. In August 2013, Pitt County’s unemployment rate was at 8.3 percent.

In August, three counties had unemployment rates at 5 percent or less, while 88 counties experienced jobless rates between 5 percent and 10 percent, according to NCDL figures. Nine counties had unemployment rates at 10 percent or higher in August.

In August, Graham County had the highest unemployment rate in the state at 13.4 percent, while Currituck County posted the lowest rate at 4 percent, according to NCDL information.