We’re getting our first look at the impact Helene had on employment in western North Carolina.
New numbers released Wednesday by the state Department of Commerce break down the employment picture at the county level.
Other WRAL Top Stories
Unemployment rose overall, with numbers going up in 91 of the state’s 100 counties. Since October 2023, the number of workers employed statewide increased 535, while those unemployed increased 8,390.
Statewide, the unemployment rate stands at 3.6% for October.
Buncombe County went from the best in the state – with an unemployment rate of only 2.5% in September – to the worst in the state. The county's unemployment rate climbed to 8.8% in October.
Buncombe County is one of seven mountain counties that dropped to the 10 worst counties in terms of unemployment rates after Helene.
Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties also had 2.5% unemployment in September. There were only three other counties in the state that had a 2.5% unemployment rate in September.
Ashe is now the best performing of those counties, ranking 28th with an unemployment rate of 3.2% in October.
Avery dropped to 96th (6.5%) and Watauga ranked 56th (3.6%) in October.
Yancey County rounded out the top 10 in September. In October, it’s 97th.
Henderson County, which was also hit hard, dropped from 9th (2.7%) to 83rd (4.6%). Rutherford County in October ranked 94th, with Warren and McDowell counties trailing behind as 93rd and 92nd.
Henderson County, which was also hit hard, dropped from 9th (2.7%) to 83rd (4.6%).
For more information, you can find both unemployment reports below.