Rowan County’s unemployment rate increased in January, according to figures released today by the N.C. Employment Security Commission.
Rowan’s jobless rate was 12 percent in January, compared to 11.3 percent in December. According to the state, Rowan had a labor force of 68,728 and of those, 8,249 were on the unemployment rolls in January.
A higher percentage of the work force was unemployed in Cabarrus County as well, going from 10.1 percent in December to 11 percent in January.
Unemployment rates rose in 99 of North Carolina’s 100 counties and in all 14 of its metropolitan statistical areas. Still, Employment Security Commission Chairman Lynn R. Holmes noted the January rates reflect a decrease over the past year.
“We continue to recognize that there are still challenges ahead of us as we continue to rebuild our local economies,” Holmes said in a press release. The state unemployment rate was 10.5 percent in January.
Orange County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate in January at 6.5 percent. Graham County had the highest rate at 19.4 percent.
Here are the rates in other counties that border Rowan:
• Davidson — 11.7 percent in January, up from 11.1 percent in December.
• Davie — 10.5 percent, up from 9.5 percent.
• Iredell — 11.5 percent, up from 10.9 percent.
• Stanly — 11.8 percent, up from 10.9 percent.