Unemployment rates decreased in 97 of North Carolina’s counties in April and increased in three.

Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.8 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.2 percent.

The April statewide rate was 4.3 percent.

The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

Rowan County’s rate was 0.1 above the state rate, at 4.4 percent. It was 4.8 percent for March, and in April 2016, it was 5.2 percent.

Cabarrus County is below the state’s rate at 3.9 percent unemployment, compared to 4.2 percent in March and 4.2 in April 2016.

In other counties near Rowan:

• Davidson: 4.1 percent for April, 4.5 percent for March and 4.5 percent for April 2016.

• Davie: 3.7 percent for April, 4.2 for March and 4.2 percent for April 2016.

• Iredell: 3.9 percent for April, 4.3 for March and 4.4 percent for April 2016.

• Stanly: 3.9 percent for April, 4.3 for March and 4.3 percent for April 2016.

Rowan has the highest rate among surrounding counties and ranks 52nd in the state, with similar unemployment rates in Duplin and Currituck counties. The labor force is estimated at 66,021 people.

Cabarrus County ranked 24th in the state, with a labor force of 102,754 people.

Of the neighboring counties, Davie ranked the best, at 11th, with just 20,122 people in the workforce.

Stanly County ranked 20th, with 29,731 people in the workforce.

Iredell County is 23rd, with 86,165 people in the workforce.

Davidson comes in at 37th in the state, with 79,600 people in the workforce.

When compared to the same month last year, unemployment rates decreased in 98 counties and increased in two. All 15 metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year.