Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 86 of North Carolina’s counties in October and remained the same in 14.

The October not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.6 percent.

Rowan’s unemployment rate is above state levels, but just barely. For October, it’s 3.7%, higher than September’s 3.6%; October 2018’s rate was also 3.6%. That puts the county at a ranking of 49th for the state, out of 100 counties.

Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.8 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.7 percent.

Cabarrus County’s unemployment rate is unchanged from September at 3.3%; the 2018 rate was also 3.3%. Cabarrus is ranked at No. 22 for unemployment.

In surrounding counties:

Davidson: 3.5%, up from 3.3 in September and up from 3.4% in 2018. Their ranking is 34th.

Davie: 3.2%, up from 3.1 percent in September, but the same as in October 2018; overall ranking in state, 10th.

Iredell: 3.4%, up from 3.3 in September and 3.2 in October 2018; state ranking, 26th.

Stanly: 3.4%, up from 3.3 in September this year and 3.3 in October 2018, making its ranking 25th.

In the Charlotte/Concord/Gastonia area, of which Rowan and Iredell counties are part, the losses were in manufacturing, mining, logging and construction, government and other services jobs.

Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases and one remained the same. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 4.9 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 2.8 percent.

When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates increased in 54 counties, decreased in 24, and remained the same in 22. Four of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases over the year, seven decreased, and four remained the same.