By Steve Huffman
Salisbury Post
Rowan County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in March, reflecting a statewide trend.
Unemployment fell in 86 counties, according to statistics released Monday by the N.C. Employment Security Commission.
Rowan County’s drop wasn’t especially significant, the unemployment rate going from 5.5 percent to 5.3 percent.
In Cabarrus County, unemployment dropped from 4.8 percent to 4.7 percent.
Seven counties witnessed increases in unemployment while rates held steady in the remaining seven.
“This is a welcome change for our state’s workers following two months that saw unemployment rate increases,” said Employment Security Commission Chairman Harry Payne. “As we enter the tourism season in North Carolina, we hope to see these decreases continue, but uncertainty remains amid factors outside of our control, such as increasing gas prices.”
Across the state, 33 counties had unemployment rates below 5 percent in March, compared with 18 counties with such rates in February.
A total of 67 counties had unemployment rates between 5 and 10 percent in March, while 81 counties fell into that category in February.
No counties had unemployment rates above 10 percent in March while one county ó Hyde ó had such a rate in February.
Orange County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate in March at 3.4 percent. Scotland County had the highest rate at 9.6 percent.
Contact Steve Huffman at 704-797-4222 or shuffman@salisburypost.com.