Layoffs fuel jobless rates

Rowan County’s yo-yo jobless rate jumped again in July, fueled by more temporary layoffs.

The rate rose just under a full percentage point from 4.7 percent to 5.6 percent in July.

The Rowan rate is barely above the 5.4 percent rate for the state.

In the world of jobs, 680 more people were unemployed in July, bringing the total seeking help at the N.C. Employment Security Commission’s Salisbury office to 3,930.

The increase in Rowan mirrored much of the state, as the jobless rate rose in 49 counties.

Despite the rise, Rowan County continued to have a better rate than many surrounding counties.

The July jobless rate for Davidson hit 8.3 percent, with Stanly a close second at 7.9 percent. Davie recorded 7.2 percent.

The Davidson increase from 4.6 percent to 8.3 percent was one of the highest in the state.

Cabarrus continued to have the best unemployment rate among neighboring counties, with a rate of 4.2 percent, and Iredell County reported 5.4 percent. Both counties had slight increases from June to July.

During a three-month period, Rowan’s jobless rate hit a 19-year high in May, skyrocketing to 11.4 percent, with many temporary layoffs.

By June, it dropped to 4.7 percent, before rising again.

“It’s going to be a yo-yo, up one month and down another, as long as we have employers doing temporary layoffs,” said Tony Sloop, assistant manager of the local office of the Employment Security Commission.

Sloop said the textile sector layoffs continue to fuel the jobless rate.

While the jobless rate swings wildly, the Employment Security Commission continues to get job listings daily from local employers.

Sloop said this week has been a very busy one, with large numbers of people coming in on Monday and Tuesday. Sloop said he is not aware of any additional permanent job cuts from local industries.

The jobless rates listed by the Employment Security Commission are a snapshot of employment status, based on surveys taken on the 12th of each month.

According to a press release from the state office of the Employment Security Commission, the state paid out $88 million in unemployment benefits during July, an all-time high for the agency.

In comparison, the agency paid out $36.8 million in benefits during July 2000.

Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com .