Triangle unemployment rate remains 8.4% in November

Jobs picture is unchanged since September, but Raleigh-Cary does add a net 1,100 positions. Durham-Chapel Hill drops 400 jobs. Jobless rate ticks up in Fayetteville, Goldsboro.

Posted 3:54 p.m. Jan 5, 2010 — Updated 4:31 p.m. Jan 5, 2010

RALEIGH, N.C. — Unemployment in the Triangle is stuck on 8.4 percent.

According to new figures from the N.C. Employment Security Commission on Tuesday, the jobless rate in Raleigh-Cary-Durham-Chapel Hill was 8.4 percent in November. That percentage is unchanged from September and October. In August, the rate was slightly higher at 8.6 percent.

Even though the jobless rate was unchanged, the number of people working fell by almost 2,000 to 797,980. The number of people out of work and seeking employment also fell slightly by nearly 200 to 73,316, the ESC said.

Statewide, joblessness increased in 60 of 100 counties and fell in 31 others with an overall unemployment rate of 10.7 percent.

The Raleigh-Cary metro area did add 1,100 jobs in November, most of which came in education and health services (1,000) and trade, transportation and utilities (300). Offsetting the gains were the losses of 700 manufacturing, professional and business services and mining and construction jobs.

Durham-Chapel Hill lost a net 400 jobs, most of those occurring in leisure and hospitality (300).

Unemployment in Fayetteville grew to 9.1 percent (9 percent in October) and Goldsboro to 9 percent (8.7 percent in October) but remain unchanged in Rocky Mount at 13.6 percent.

Unemployment rates in the metropolitan statistical areas for November were:

• Asheville — 8.6 percent, up from 8.5 percent in October.

• Burlington — 11.9 percent, up from 11.8 percent.

• Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord N.C.-S.C. — 11.8 percent, down from 12 percent.

• Durham-Chapel Hill — 7.6 percent, no change.

• Fayetteville — 9.1 percent, up from 9 percent.

• Goldsboro — 9 percent, up from 8.7 percent.

• Greensboro-High Point — 11.2 percent, down from 11.3 percent.

• Greenville — 9.9 percent, no change.

• Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton — 14.4 percent, down from 14.5 percent.

• Jacksonville — 8.2 percent, up from 8.0 percent.

• Raleigh-Cary — 8.6 percent, no change.