Unemployment rates decreased in all 100 NC counties in July

Unemployment rates decreased throughout North Carolina in July, with all 100 counties seeing a dip in their percentage.

Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.6 percent while Buncombe, Swain, and Chatham Counties each had the lowest at 2.9 percent.

All 15 of the state’s metropolitan areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 6 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 2.9 percent. The July not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.7 percent.

Wake (3 percent), Durham (3.1 percent) and Orange (3.1 percent) carried similar figures. Complete county-by-county data is available here.

The numbers are based off a new report form the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

In July, the number of counties with an unemployment rate of 5 percent or less rose to 86 from 80 in June. There were no counties with a rate of 10 percent or higher.

The rates in the figures were not seasonally adjusted. Economists note that changes over the course of a year paint a more accurate picture with the numbers.

The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in July by 31,277 to 4,966,822, while those unemployed decreased by 18,851 to 190,340. Since July 2021, the number of workers employed statewide increased 214,946, while those unemployed decreased 65,092.

The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 16, when data for August will be released.