Unemployment rate decreases for Rowan County

Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 3, 2016

RALEIGH — Along with 94 other counties across the state, Rowan County’s unemployment rate dropped in September, according to recent employment figures.

According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the unemployment rates, not seasonally adjusted, increased in only two counties and remained steady in three.

The statewide unemployment rate decreased to 4.8 percent from 5 percent in August.

Rowan County’s unemployment rate decreased to 5.3 percent from 5.5 percent in August. At the same time last year, the county’s rate was 5.7 percent. The figure put the county at 69th place in the state ranking.

Cabarrus County also saw a decrease in its unemployment rate, dropping to 4.3 percent from 4.6 percent in August. Last September’s rate stood at 4.9 percent. The county ranked 18th.

For Davidson County, the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in September compared to 4.9 percent in August. It was 5.3 percent a year ago. The county ranked 33rd.

Davie County, which ranked 19th, had an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent for September. The rate for August was 4.6 percent and the rate for September of 2015 was 4.8 percent.

Iredell County came in 24th place in the state ranking. The county’s unemployment rate for September was 4.5 percent, a decrease from August’s 4.7 percent. The rate for September of 2015 was 5.1 percent.

September’s unemployment rate was 4.5 percent for Stanly County, down from August’s 4.7 percent and also down from last September’s rate of 5 percent. Stanly County ranked 26th in the state.

Scotland County continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the state at 8.5 percent, and Buncombe County continues to have the lowest at 3.6 percent.