Oct. 29--Area unemployment ...

September Labor Force Employed Jobless

Craven 43,040 38,756 4,284

Pamlico 5,584 5,020 564

Jones 4,841 4,313 528

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Unemployment in Craven, Pamlico, and Jones counties inched up a little higher in September, bucking the overall statewide trend.

Unemployment rates were lower in 76 of North Carolina's 100 counties for September versus August. Rates remained the same in 10 counties and increased in 14 including Craven, Pamlico and Jones.

The rate increases were small, however, and kept the area counties near the low end of the grouping of 64 North Carolina counties with unemployment rates of 10 percent or above.

Craven's rate went up one tenth of a percent from 9.9 percent to 10 percent; Pamlico's increased from 9.8 percent to 10.1 percent; and Jones' hike was from 10.7 percent to 10.9 percent.

The rates in Craven and Pamlico counties were still below the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate of 10.4 percent, announced by the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina. That is a revised number from the 10.8 percent announced on Oct. 16.

Some large area employers are holding onto workers or even beginning to call back laid off workers or hiring more temporary workers, partly buoyed by a 9.4 percent national increase in new home sales.

But many of local small businesses are slipping, particularly retail sales.

"The global and national recession continues to affect our state," said Moses Carey Jr., Employment Security Commission chairman. "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," he said. "The ESC continues to help job seekers connect with employers all across the state."

Looking farther ahead gives Craven County Economic Development Director Jim Davis some cautious optimism.

He said: "My reading of the regional survey announced Wednesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, is that they are showing manufacturing activity expanding for the sixth straight month, but at a more moderate pace in October."

Slow growth is better than no growth, he said, and "that report has all broad indicators including shipments, new orders and employment continuing to grow but at a rate below September's pace."

Statewide, the total number of unemployed decreased by 13,304 workers in September to 472,429 workers. Almost $4 million was paid out in unemployment benefits for September, according to the Labor Market Information Division of the Employment Security Commission.

Currituck County's 5 percent unemployment rate was the lowest in the state and Scotland County's was the highest at 16.5 percent.

Sue Book can be reached at 252-635-5666 or sbook@freedomenc.com.

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