Jobless rate declines
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Staff reportThe unemployment rate dropped in 77 North Carolina counties, including Rowan, during the month of September.
The latest information released by the N.C. Employment Security Commission shows Rowan’s jobless rate dropped to 7.2 percent during September. In August, the rate was 8.1 percent.
According to the state report, a total of 66,771 Rowan residents were employed, with 5,203 unemployed.
Rowan continues to have a higher rate than most adjacent counties. The September rates for adjacent counties were: Cabarrus, 6.4 percent; Davie, 6.9; Iredell, 6.5. Davidson’s rate of 7.4 percent is the highest in the region. Mecklenburg’s jobless rate also fell, dropping from 7 percent to 6.6 percent in September. Unemployment rates decreased in all 14 metro areas statewide.
“For the second consecutive month, many of the state’s counties experienced a decline in unemployment rates,” ESC Chairman Harry E. Payne Jr. said in a press release. “The impact of the national economy on our state has been far reaching. While rates are down in many of our counties in September, some counties continue to struggle with unemployment.”
Currituck County had the state’s lowest jobless rate at 3.6 percent in September, while Scotland County had the highest rate at 11.7 percent.
The five counties receiving the highest amount in unemployment insurance benefits in September were: Mecklenburg, $12.1 million; Wake, $8.1 million; Guilford, $5.9 million; Forsyth, $3.7 million; and Gaston, $3.3 million.
In September, $114 million in benefits were paid to 118,159 individuals statewide compared to $99.5 million paid to 107,644 in August.