Unemployment Rate Up in All 14 N.C. Metro Areas

RALEIGH, N.C. — Unemployment in all 14 metropolitan statistical areas across North Carolina increased in November, contributing to a jump in the state’s unemployment rate to 4.9 percent, the state Employment Security Commission reported on Friday.

The unemployment rate in October was 4.5 percent.

The jobless rate in Raleigh-Cary increased to 3.6 percent from 3.3 percent. However, that figure matches Asheville for the lowest metro area unemployment.

In Durham, the unemployment rate climbed to 4 percent, up from 3.7 percent.

Rocky Mount maintained the highest metro area jobless rate at 6.5 percent, up from 6.2 percent in October.

Statewide, the number of people seeking unemployment benefits increased by nearly 19,000 to 219,053. The number of employed, which was not seasonally adjusted, declined by 1,695 to 4,284,694.

The size of the work force–4.5 million–set a state record.

Unemployment also increased in 92 of the state’s 100 counties.

The 14 metro statistical area rates as reported by the ESC:

Asheville—3.6 percent, up from 3.1 percent in October.

Burlington—5.3 percent, up from 5.0 percent.

Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord NC-SC—4.8 percent, up from 4.5 percent.

Durham—4.0 percent, up from 3.7 percent.

Fayetteville—6.1 percent, up from 5.6 percent.

Goldsboro—5.3 percent, up from 4.8 percent.

Greensboro-High Point—5.1 percent, up from 4.6 percent.

Greenville—5.3 percent, up from 5.0 percent.

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton—6.3 percent, up from 5.7 percent.

Jacksonville—4.9 percent, up from 4.2 percent.

Raleigh-Cary—3.6 percent, up from 3.3 percent.

Rocky Mount—6.5 percent, up from 6.2 percent.

Wilmington—4.0 percent, up from 3.5 percent.

Winston-Salem—4.4 percent, up from 4.1 percent.

Unemployment climbed to 3.6 percent in Wake County, up from 3.2 percent in October. Durham County’s jobless rate hit 4.0 percent, compared with 3.6 percent the previous month.

Chatham County’s jobless rate dipped to 3.8 percent from 3.9 percent in October.

Other November county unemployment rates include: Orange 3.4 percent, Franklin 3.8 percent, Johnston 3.9 percent, and Cumberland 6.1 percent.