Rowan unemployment improves to 5.2% for February

Published 11:39 am Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in February. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 15.3 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.9 percent.

Rowan County’s rate for February is at 5.2 percent, a decrease from January’s 5.8 percent, compared to February 2016’s rate of 5.9 percent.

In Cabarrus County, the February rate was 4.6 percent, improved from 4.9 in January; February 2016’s rate was 6 percent.

All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 7.2 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 4.1 percent. The February not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 5 percent.

In the counties that surround Rowan, unemployment decreased compared to January and compared to February 2016.

• Davidson — 4.8 percent in February 2017; 5.3 in January; 5.4 in Februrary 2016.

• Davie — 4.4 percent in February; 4.9 in January; 5.1 in February 2016.

• Iredell — 4.7 in February; 5.3 in January; 5.44 in February 2016.

• Stanly — 4.6 in February; 5.1 in January; 5.2 in February 2016.

Cabarrus County, with a labor force of 102.809, ranks 17th in the state for its unemployment rate.

Rowan, with a labor force of 66,226, and an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent, ranks 48th in the state.

• Davie — with 20,299 in the labor force, ranks 10th.

• Davidson — 80,378 in the workforce, ranks 30th.

• Iredell — 86,351 in the labor force, ranks 20th.

• Stanly — 29,660 in the work force, ranks 18th.