SALISBURY — Rowan County’s unemployment rate fell to 6.7 percent in February, down from 7.1 percent in January, according to the state.
The rate was 9.5 percent a year ago, in February 2013.
Rowan’s labor force last month was 68,479 workers, with 4,559 people unemployed.
North Carolina’s statewide unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in February, a .4 percent decrease from January’s revised rate of 7 percent and a 2.5 percentage-point decline over the year.
Over the month, the unemployment rate decreased in 95 counties, increased in four and remained unchanged in one. Thirty-three counties had unemployment rates at or below the state’s 6.6 percent rate.
Graham County recorded February’s highest unemployment rate at 13.8 percent. Dare County had the second-highest rate at 13.5 percent. Orange County had the lowest unemployment rate at 4.4 percent, followed by Chatham at 4.5 percent and Polk at 4.6 percent.
Unemployment rates decreased in all 14 of the state’s metropolitan areas over the month. Rocky Mount had the highest unemployment rate in February at 9.6 percent, followed by Fayetteville at 7.5 percent.
Durham/Chapel Hill reported the month’s lowest unemployment rate at 5 percent. Raleigh/Cary followed at 5.1 percent.
Employment estimates are subject to large seasonal patterns, according to the state, and the February figures have not been seasonally adjusted yet.