Scotland leads the state with a 16.0 percent unemployment state, according to the state Employment Security Commission, followed by Rutherford and Edgecombe counties, both at 14.8, Caldwell at 14.1 and Anson at 13.6. Currituck has the lowest unemployment rate at 4.9 percent.
Jobs in Scotland shrank from 11,510 in April to 11,376 in May while those seeking work increased by six to 2,163.
Scotland was one of just seven counties in the state to see it's rate increase while unemployment fell in 87 counties. The state's rate dropped 0.2 points to 9.9 percent.
Lynn R. Holmes, chairman of the state ESC, attributed the overall decline in joblessness to seasonal jobs and industrial growth.
"A majority of North Carolina's counties experienced a decline in their unemployment rates," she said. "Some counties benefitted from, seasonal hiring, which is typical this time of the year. We continued to experience industry growth within our metropolitan... areas."
Most neighboring counties had a decline in their rates.
Richmond's rate shrunk by 0.4 points to 12.6 percent, Moore's rate decreased 0.4 points to 8.9 percent and Hoke's rate declined 0.1 points to 7.9. Robeson County's rate remained at 11.6 percent.
Some local job relief is coming through the schools, but the help is limited by a lack of federal funds, according to Fred Thomas, Scotland County Schools Director of Career-Technical Education.
"We are short of students being employed because the American Recovery Reinvestment Act was not refunded this year," he said.
Thomas said those funds and the positions they provided were helpful not just to Scotland County, but to communities throughout the nation.
"We get calls daily asking about employment," he said, but the school can't fill them.
Another program, the Workforce Investment Act, is providing some students with jobs.
"We have 30 students who are working this summer who are already in WIA from this program," he said.
Those students started Monday and work through July 29.
Thomas said they are working at Scotland High, Washington Park and Sycamore Lane in several capacities, as well as helping daycare centers and government agencies.
The students learn good work habits and job skills, according to Thomas.
"These supervisors are working with them to make them successful at what they do," he said.
The money the students earn help them purchase school supplies and clothing for the coming year, he said.
The program is funded through federal WIA dollars administered by the Lumber River Workforce Development Division and the Lumber River Council of Governments.
Post a Comment
