Oct. 24--HICKORY -- Stacy Baker describes herself as a "Jill of all trades" who has worked in management and customer service as well as janitorial and child-care settings.

Since losing a food-service job in May, the 36-year-old Hickory woman has been unable to find any work at all.

"With so many people out of work, employers have the pick of the litter," said Baker, a high school graduate and the single mother of a 15-year-old son.

"They don't have to take you even if you have experience and a great work history.

"It's very, very competitive out there."

Baker was at the North Carolina Employment Security Commission office on U.S. 70 Friday afternoon, searching for job openings.

"Recently I've been looking at anything and everything," she said.

"Whatever job I can find."

She's not alone.

Unemployment in the Greater Hickory Metro was 14.1 percent in September, down from 14.6 percent in August. It is the highest jobless rate among the state's 14 metropolitan statistical areas.

September was the second consecutive month in which unemployment rates dropped in all four of the region's counties.

Catawba County's unemployment rate was 13.6 percent in September, down from 14.4 percent in August. The county's jobless rate peaked at 15.6 percent in March, the highest it has been since 1975.

Other area rates for September were 13.6 percent in Alexander County, down from 14.4 percent in August; 14.1 percent in Burke County, down from 14.2 percent in August; and 15.2 percent in Caldwell County, down from 15.3 percent in August.

Hickory's unemployment rate in September was 11.8 percent, down from 12.1 percent in August. In September 2008, Hickory's jobless rate was 6.5 percent.

In September, unemployment rates decreased in 76 of North Carolina's 100 counties, increased in 14 counties and remained the same in 10, according to statistics released Friday by the N.C. Employment Security Commission.

Among the state's 14 metropolitan statistical areas, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton ranked No. 1 in joblessness for the ninth consecutive month. It was followed by Rocky Mount, where the September unemployment rate was 13.4 percent, down from 13.7 percent in August.

Coastal Currituck County had the state's lowest unemployment rate in September, at 5 percent.

Scotland County had the highest jobless rate, at 16.5 percent.

Statewide, the unemployment rate was 10.4 percent in September, down from 10.7 percent in August.

The national jobless rate was 9.8 percent in September, up from 9.7 percent in August.

Moses Carey Jr., N.C. Employment Security Commission chairman, said the global and national recession continues to affect the state.

"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," Carey said.

"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."

While jobs remain hard to find, consecutive declines in the region's unemployment rate are a hopeful sign, said Allan Mackie, manager of the N.C. Employment Security Commission office here.

"While unemployment is still far too high, there's a decided drift in the right direction," Mackie said.

The N.C. Employment Security Commission said 11,200 more people in the Greater Hickory Metro were unemployed in September 2009 than in September 2008. About 6,600 of those people had been employed in manufacturing.

About 29 percent of the Hickory region's jobs are in manufacturing, compared to a national average of 10 percent.

Baker, who has held jobs in area factories, plans to eventually return to school to earn an applied science degree.

She sees herself in a health-care career someday.

"That's my long-term goal," Baker said.

"For right now, I just need to find work."

-----

To see more of the Hickory Daily Record or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.hickoryrecord.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, Hickory Daily Record, N.C.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.