The state's jobless rate has declined for five straight months but remains higher than the national figure of 9.5 percent for July. The state rate has topped the national figure since February 2008 and had been above 10 percent since January 2009.
The report showed even more workers left jobs in July than fell off the unemployment rolls, suggesting the falling jobless rate wasn't thanks to a boost in hiring.
"As the labor force falls, the unemployment rate looks better," said Hal Snarr, an economics professor at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro.
North Carolina led the country with the largest decrease in people holding jobs between June and July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said. There were about 3.9 million North Carolina residents holding a non-farm job in July, once adjusted for seasonal differences, a drop of 29,800 jobs since June.
Local governments strained by falling tax collections shed 26,500 workers over the month, especially public school teachers and school support staffers, the employment commission said. Some of those jobs may be restored as a result of federal funds.
Most other fields added or cut a few hundred jobs over the month, with the only significant gainer being trade, transportation and utilities, which added 2,800 workers.
"We experienced job growth in some sectors but had a large loss in government due mostly to declines in local school employment," ESC chairwoman Lynn Holmes said.
Since the national recession began in December 2007, North Carolina has lost 274,200 jobs.
Local help
Those facing chronic joblessness because of past convictions may soon find help getting a job as Holmes will be in Laurinburg next week to talk about work issues for Scotland County residents with criminal records.
The meeting is Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Fellowship Hall of the Bright Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church.
State Rep. Garland Pierce, the pastor of Bright Hopewell, said the forum hopes to attract those who cannot find work because of criminal backgrounds; employers interested in providing second chance employment; and those concerned about recidivism rates.
Holmes has served as chairman since March. She is the former assistant vice-president of ethics and compliance at BellSouth Corporation (now AT&T), where she began her 20-year career. Before joining BellSouth, she served as a legislative counsel in the U.S. Senate. Prior to accepting the ESC job, Holmes was the principal in Ross Holmes Group LLC, a consulting practice focused on ethics, compliance and governmental relations and policy.
The church is at 601 North Main Street in Laurinburg.
Scotland County, which has the highest jobless rate in the state, will find out next Friday if the employment situation is improving as the state releases local figures for July.
Post a Comment
