SALISBURY – Rowan County’s unemployment rate dropped again in September to 9.2 percent, down from 10.1 in August.
In 2011, Rowan’s unemployment rate in September was 11.1 percent.
Unemployment rates decreased in 97 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in September, increased in one and remained the same in two. When compared to the same month last year, unemployment rates declined in all 100 counties.
North Carolina’s statewide rate in September was 8.9 percent. That’s a .8 percentage-point decrease from August’s seasonally adjusted rate of 9.7 percent and a 1.5 percentage-point decrease over the year.
Thirty-six counties were at or below the 8.9 percent rate, and unemployment rates decreased in all 14 of the state’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Cabarrus County’s rate also decreased in September to 8.4 percent, down from 8.8 percent in August. The September 2011 rate in Cabarrus was 9.8 percent.
In other counties:
? Davidson: Rate dropped 1 percentage point to 9.6, from 10.6 in August. September 2011 was 11.4 percent.
? Davie: Rate for September is 7.5 percent, compared to 8.1 in August and 9.7 in September 2011.
? Iredell: 9.1 percent in September, compared to 9.8 in August and 11 percent in September 2011.
? Stanly: 9.1 percent in September, compared to 9.8 in August and 11.3 in September 2011.
Currituck County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate in September at 5.1 percent, and Scotland County had the highest rate at 16.1 percent.
Rowan, Cabarrus, Davidson and Iredell counties have all paid between $35.4 million and $74.6 million in benefits in the period covering October 2011 to September 2012. Davie has paid less, between $1.1 million and $13.1 million; Stanly has also paid less, $13.2 million to $35.4 million.