Unemployment rate up slightly for December in Rowan County
Published 12:00 am Saturday, February 4, 2017
Staff report
RALEIGH — The unemployment rate in Rowan County increased slightly in December, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
The rate increased from 5.2 percent in November to 5.3 percent in December. The rate in December 2015 was 5.5 percent.
The numbers placed Rowan County at a ranking of 56 out of the 100 counties in the state.
Unemployment rates went up for 70 other counties in December. They decreased in nine counties and stayed the same in 20 others.
The statewide unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
Cabarrus County also saw a slight increase for December. The unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in November and increased to 4.4 percent in December. The county’s unemployment rate in December 2015 was 4.7 percent. Cabarrus ranked 15th in the state for December.
The unemployment rate increased from 4.6 percent in November to 4.7 percent in December in Davidson County. Its unemployment rate in December 2015 was 5 percent. The county ranked 31st.
Davie County’s unemployment rate remained steady for November and December at 4.3 percent. The county’s rate for December 2015 was 4.6 percent. That put Davie County at 11th place in the state.
Iredell County’s jobless rate for December was 4.7 percent, compared to 4.5 percent in November. The unemployment rate last December was 5 percent. The county ranked 30th in the state.
Stanly County also saw a slight increase. The unemployment rate in November was 4.5 percent, and it increased to 4.6 percent in December. Stanly County ranked 25th in the state.
Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate for December, with 11.6 percent. Buncombe County continued to have the lowest rate at 3.7 percent.
Nationally, the federal government said Friday that the U.S. economy added 227,000 jobs in January. The national unemployment rate is 4.8 percent.
President Donald Trump predicted better days to come.
“Great spirit in the country right now,” Trump said of the job gains, according to the Associated Press. “I think it’s going to continue, big league.”
