More government jobs drive down Triangle unemployment
Unemployment in the Research Triangle Park metropolitan area declined to 7.5 percent in September from 8 percent in August, the state's Employment Security Commission reported Friday.
Posted — UpdatedAcross North Carolina, the jobless rate fell in 97 of 100 counties.
The state’s overall unemployment rate fell to 9.1 percent from 9.7 percent in August, but the September rate is not seasonally adjusted, which economists generally consider a more reliable measure.
Nearly 800,000 of the Raleigh-Durham-Cary-Chapel Hill labor force numbering more than 864,000 were working, the ESC said.
Separately, the ESC said the jobless rate in Raleigh-Cary fell to 7.7 percent from 8.2 percent the previous month.
Some 500 more people were working in September than August due primarily to an increase of 2,000 government jobs. However, 1,000 jobs were lost in the leisure and hospitality sector.
In Durham-Chapel Hill, the jobless rate declined to 6.7 percent from 7.3 percent in September.
Some 2,200 more people were working in September than the previous month. A jump of 2,300 government jobs offset a series of declines in other sectors, including a loss of 300 construction jobs.
Statewide, the jobless rate also fellow in all the major metropolitan areas.
Unemployment rates in the metropolitan statistical areas for September:
- Asheville — 7.5 percent, down from 8 percent in August.
- Burlington — 9.9 percent, down from 10.6 percent.
- Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill NC-SC — 10.4 percent, down from 11.1 percent.
- Durham-Chapel Hill — 6.7 percent, down from 7.3 percent.
- Fayetteville — 8.5 percent, down from 9.1 percent.
- Goldsboro — 7.9 percent, down from 8.3 percent.
- Greensboro-High Point — 9.8 percent, down from 10.4 percent.
- Greenville — 9.1 percent, down from 9.8 percent.
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton — 11.7 percent, down from 12.5 percent.
- Jacksonville — 7.4 percent, down from 7.8 percent
- Raleigh-Cary — 7.7 percent, down from 8.2 percent.
- Rocky Mount — 11.8 percent, down from 12.7 percent..
- Wilmington — 8.9 percent, down from 9.3 percent.
- Winston-Salem — 8.7 percent, down from 9.3 percent.
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