Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 87 of North Carolina’s counties in May, decreased in 12 and remained the same in one. All 14 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases.
Rowan County’s unemployment rate for May is 9.2 percent, up from April’s 8.8 percent. In May 2012, the rate was 9.7 percent.
For Cabarrus County, the rate for May is 8.4 percent, up from April’s 7.9 percent. The May 2012 unemployment rate was 8.9 percent.
Davidson, Davie, Iredell and Stanly counties all saw a rise in unemployment last month. Davidson’s rate is 9.5 percent, up from 9.1 in April; May 2012’s rate was 10 percent. Davie is at 8.7 percent, up from April’s 8 percent; May 2012 was 8.9 percent. Iredell’s rate is 8.9 percent for May, up from 8.5 percent in April; May 2012 was 9.5 percent. Stanly County’s May 2013 rate is 8.8 percent, up from 8.4 in April, but down from 9.4 percent in May 2012.
Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 16.2 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 5.7 percent. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 12.8 percent experienced the highest rate and Durham-Chapel Hill at 6.8 percent had the lowest. The May not-seasonally-adjusted statewide rate was 8.9 percent.
When compared to the same month last year, not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates increased in 23 counties, fell in 71 and remained unchanged in six. Two metro areas experienced rate increases, while 11 experienced rate decreases and one remained unchanged.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in May by 29,957 to 4,320,014, while those unemployed increased 27,105 to 424,551. Since May 2012, the number of workers employed statewide increased 26,455, while those unemployed decreased 17,758.