Scotland County saw a slight dip in its unemployment rate for the month of February, according to the latest figures from the state Department of Commerce’s Division of Employment Security.
The jobless rate for February was 17.5 percent, down from 17.8 percent the previous month. The county’s jobless rate is up slightly from where it stood in February 2011, when it was 17.3 percent.
Unemployment rates fell in 84 counties of North Carolina’s 100 counties in February. Rates increased in 10 counties and were unchanged in six. Unemployment rates declined in 81 counties when compared to the same month last year.
“A majority of North Carolina’s counties have lower unemployment rates compared to last year,” said N.C. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll. “While the over-the-year numbers are positive, we must continue our focus on job growth across the state. We have employment service offices statewide to assist customers with job search opportunities and other workforce related programs.”
The number of workers employed in Scotland County dropped from 13,744 in January to 13,706 in February. The reported number of Scotland County unemployed also dropped slightly, from 2,450 in January to 2,402 in February.
Orange County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate in February at 6.3 percent. Graham County had the highest rate at 20.7 percent.
North Carolina had 34 counties that were at or below the state’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate of 10.1 percent. Unemployment rates decreased in 13 of the 14 Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Neighboring counties saw declines in their February jobless rates:
— Richmond County, 13.6 percent, down from 14.0 percent in January
— Robeson County, 13.5 percent, down from 14.0 percent in January
— Cumberland County, 10.1 percent, down from 10.3 percent in January
— Hoke 9.5 percent, down from 9.9 percent in January
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