Oct. 23--SHELBY -- A line of job seekers waited outside the Employment Security Commission office Friday morning, hopeful of finding something local to help pay the bills.

And while Cleveland County's unemployment rate remains high, it saw a noticeable drop between August and September, according to figures released Friday.

Unemployment rates decreased in 76 North Carolina counties in September, according to statistics released by the state's Employment Security Commission. Rates increased in 14 counties, and remained the same in 10.

Cleveland County was among the counties that saw a decrease in unemployment, falling from 14.8 percent in August to 14.3 percent in September.

More than 7,000 job-seeking county residents remain out of work, the report read.

"The global and national recession continues to affect our state," said ESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. "While 76 counties across North Carolina experienced an unemployment rate decrease, we must remember that most of these same counties remain at a high rate. We're encouraged by some recent job announcements, but we are also aware of some continued layoffs. The ESC continues to help job seekers connect with employers all across the state."

North Carolina had 45 counties which were at or below the state's unadjusted unemployment rate of 10.4 percent.

Rates decreased in 12 of the state's Metropolitan Statistical Areas, increased in one and remained the same in one.

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