Aug. 1--Lenoir County's unemployment rate remained unchanged in June at 12.4 percent, the same as it was in May.

The N.C. Employment Security Commission released the state's latest unemployment figures, which showed that the unemployment rate increased in 56 counties, decreased in 32 counties and remained the same in 12 counties.

The rate of unemployment in Lenoir County has climbed dramatically in the past couple of years.

The county's rate was 7.2 percent in June 2008; it was 5.2 percent in June 2007. The county's unemployment rate was 9.6 percent in December 2008, but it jumped to 12 percent in January 2009.

Bev Alston, Lenoir County Employment Security Commission Director, said there were 277 jobless claims filed at the Kinston office in May and another 313 jobless claims filed at the office in June.

"People are starting to run out of their unemployment extension money," Alston said. "There were three extensions filed by the state and federal governments to extend the unemployment benefit payments from 26 to 52 weeks."

Unless another extension or stimulus package is passed to help the unemployed, Alston said there will be no additional relief for those out of work.

The state's employment security commission started a new program in July to help the unemployed find work. Alston said every Wednesday the ESC's Raleigh-based office randomly selects those in need of work to attend job placement workshops.

The selected names are sent to ESC offices statewide, including Kinston. Alston said the program helps connect prospective workers with available jobs.

"We follow the workers for up to 11 weeks to see how they are doing," Alston said.

While the local economy continues to experience high unemployment, the recent announcement that Sanderson Farms is moving forward with its $121 million investment in Kinston has brought a glimmer of hope to the region.

Sanderson Farms officials expect to hire 1,500 employees next year to work at a local poultry processing plant in Kinston. The company plans to begin production January 2011.

For now, some Lenoir County workers are holding onto jobs that could be gone tomorrow. William Barnet & Son LLC announced this week that employee layoffs are likely at its Kinston facility.

Plant manager Ray Deane said this week that up to 110 employees at the Kinston site could be laid off Oct. 1. The layoffs are not definite because contract negotiations are underway with several of Barnet's contractors, Deane said.

"Like most companies, we are going through hard times," he said.

Job losses continue to mount statewide. The state's unemployment total for May was 503,676, climbing to 514,877 in June.

The unemployment rate increased in Greene County in June to 11.5 percent, as compared to 11.2 percent in May. Jones County's unemployment rate in June was 10.5 percent, which was the same rate in May for the county.

"Outside of a few counties, there wasn't a lot of change in the rates going up or down," ESC chairman Moses Carey Jr. said. "Throughout the state, we've had gains in both employment and unemployment. We are seeing some summer hiring, but not at the pace in previous years.

"At the same time, we are still dealing with some job loss and the ESC continues to be there for those individuals needing work search assistance or help with filing for unemployment benefits."

North Carolina had 49 counties in June that were at or below the state's unadjusted unemployment rate of 11.2 percent. Unemployment rates increased in 12 of the state's metropolitan statistical areas.

Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559 1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.

June 2009 unemployment rates

Lenoir County 12.4

Greene County 11.5

Pitt County 11.2

Jones County 10.5

Craven County 10.3

Duplin County 9.2

Onslow County 8.7

Source: N.C. Employment Security Commission

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