Oct. 27--Lenoir County's unemployment rate dropped during September but remained above the state average for the same period.

The unemployment rate for Lenoir County was 11.4 percent during September, down from 11.7 percent during August, according to the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina.

Local and state officials said the unemployment rates remain very high in North Carolina. Lenoir County Employment Security Commission director Beverly Alston said Monday that job recovery is still a work in progress.

"I haven't seen much improvement in the economy," Alston said.

Lenoir County's unemployment rate peaked at 12.5 percent during February and has steadily decreased since.

Two Lenoir County commissioners -- Linda Sutton and Claude Stroud -- said the local economy would slowly recover with help from Sanderson Farms and Spirit AeroSystems.

Both companies combined will employ about 3,000 employees in the coming years. Sutton said Lenoir County officials should work to help businesses expand or locate to the region.

"Sanderson Farms and Spirit are making a difference right now," Sutton said.

Stroud said he wanted to see the unemployment rate quickly return to what it was two years ago. Lenoir County's unemployment rate in October 2007 was 5 percent while the rate was 8.3 percent in October 2008.

"The unemployment rate is projected to drop some more before the year is over," Stroud said.

North Carolina had 45 counties which were at or below the state's unadjusted unemployment rate of 10.4 percent in September. Unemployment rates decreased in 76 North Carolina counties in September, according to the state ESC.

Unemployment rates increased in 14 counties and 10 counties' rates remained the same in September.

Greene County's unemployment rate for September was 10.2 percent, down from 10.9 percent in August. The unemployment rate in Jones County was 10.9 percent in September, up from 10.7 percent in August.

"The global and national recession continues to affect our state," state ESC chairman Moses Carey Jr. said. "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."

The five counties receiving the highest amount in unemployment insurance benefits in September were Mecklenburg, Wake, Guilford, Forysth and Gaston, according to the state ESC.

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

Lenoir County Unemployment Rate

October 2007 -- 5 percent

January 2008 -- 5.9 percent

April 2008 -- 5.8 percent

July 2008 -- 8 percent

October 2008 -- 8.3 percent

January 2009 -- 11.5 percent

April 2009 -- 11.8 percent

July 2009 -- 12.3 percent

September 2009 -- 11.4 percent

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