Unemployment rate increases in Stanly

By Tiffany Thompson, Staff Writer

Sunday, April 27, 2008 April 28, 2008 09:43 am

— Unemployment rates dropped in 86 counties within the state in March, according to statistics released by the state Employment Security Commission (ESC).
Seven counties saw unemployment rates increase, of which Stanly County was one. Rates in seven counties remained the same.
“This is a welcome change for our state’s workers following two months that saw unemployment rate increases,” said ESC Chairman Harry E. Payne Jr.
While the individual county rates fluctuated, the overall state unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percent. This was the third straight month to see the rate increase.
From February to March, 12 metropolitan statistical areas experienced an unemployment rate decrease, one increased and one remained the same.
The closest area to Stanly County, the Charlotte-Gas-tonia-Concord area, was among the 12 that decreased with a percentage drop of .2 percent to 5.2.
The Albemarle micropolitan statistical area experienced a rate of 5.2, with only 1,620 unemployed workers.
Thirty-nine counties were at or below the state’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.2 percent.
Orange County had the lowest rate with 3.4 percent, while Scotland County had the highest with 9.6 percent.
Total county employment increased in March by 24,035 workers to 4.27 million, and unemployment decreased by 8,478 workers.
The unemployment total in March was 235,766 compared with 244,244 in February.
“As we enter the tourism season in North Carolina, we hope to see these decreases continue, but uncertainty remains amid factors outside of our control, such as gas prices,” Payne said.
In March, there were 54,555 Initial Unemploy-ment Insurance Claims filed.
The five counties receiving the highest amount in unemployment insurance benefits were Mecklenburg, $10.1 million; Wake, $6.5 million; Guilford, $4.8 million; Forsyth, $3.3 million and Gaston, $2.6 million.
In March, $91.4 million in benefits was paid statewide, compared to $89.4 million in February.

Contact Tiffany Thompson at (704) 982-2121 ext. 24 or snaponline24@carolina.rr.com.