By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
An increase in Rowan Countyís jobless rate in November reflected a statewide trend for the month.
Rowanís unemployment rate rose to 11.6 percent in November, up from 10.9 percent in October, according to the N.C. Employment Security Commission. Across North Carolina, only Davie County did not show an increase, holding at 8.9 percent.
Rowanís slight increase is not cause for concern, said Robert Van Geons, the top jobs recruiter for Rowan County.
ěThis is a relatively small shift when you consider that the unemployment rate is based on factors that can fluctuate greatly between months,î said Van Geons, executive director for RowanWorks Economic Development.
Van Geons said Decemberís unemployment figures will be more telling.
ěWe are all interested in what that December numbers will show, with increased retail sales,î he said. ěWe are very interested to see the impact of the holiday season.î
In November, Rowan County had 7,990 people unemployed out of a work force of 68,711, the Employment Security Commission reported.
November ended a downward trend in the jobless rate for most counties. Eighty-one counties, including Rowan, had seen their rates decline over the course of 2010.
In other counties around Rowan, the November jobless rates were: Cabarrus, 10.3 percent, up from 9.7 percent in October; Davidson, 11.5 percent, up from 10.7 percent; Iredell, 11.1 percent, up from 10.4 percent; Stanly, 11.1 percent, up from 10.5 percent.
Orange County had North Carolinaís lowest unemployment rate in November at 5.9 percent; Graham County had the highest rate, 18.6 percent.
The statewide unemployment rate was 9.9 percent. The number of unemployed increased by just over 29,000.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.