Wilmington metro unemployment down almost half percent in May

RALEIGH — Unemployment rates decreased in 86 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in May, according to statistics
released today by the state’s Employment Security Commission.

“A majority of North Carolina’s counties experienced a decline in their unemployment rates,” said ESC Chairman Lynn R. Holmes. “Some counties benefited from seasonal hiring, which is typical this time of the year. We continued to experience industry growth within our metropolitan statistical areas. In May, 11 of the state’s 14 metros had an increase in job growth. The ESC continues to respond to the needs of our customers at our 89 offices statewide.”

North Carolina had 47 counties that were at or below the state’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 9.9 percent.

Rates decreased in 10 of the state’s Metropolitan Statistical Area, increased in one and remained the same in three.

The number of workers employed (not-seasonally adjusted) increased in May by 6,498 workers, to 4,096,669.

The number of people unemployed decreased, by 9,079. The number of unemployed people in May was 450,647
workers, compared with 459,726 in April.

Currituck County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate in May, at 4.9 percent. Meanwhile, Scotland County
had the highest unemployment rate, at 16 percent.

The five counties receiving the highest amount in regular unemployment insurance benefits in May were:
Mecklenburg, $21.8 million; Wake, $17.2 million; Guilford, $10.6 million; Forsyth, $6.6 million; and Gaston,
$4.9 million. In May, $194.5 million in regular UI benefits was paid to 176,980 individuals statewide, compared
to $189.3 million to 190,311 individuals in April.

Unemployment rates in the metropolitan statistical areas for May were:
Asheville — 8.2 percent, down from 8.6 percent in April.
Burlington — 10.9 percent, down from 11.1 percent.
Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill NC-SC — 10.9 percent, down from 11.2 percent.
Durham-Chapel Hill — 7.3 percent, no change.
Fayetteville — 8.7 percent, up from 8.6 percent.
Goldsboro — 8.4 percent, down from 8.6 percent.
Greensboro-High Point — 10.6 percent, down from 10.8 percent.
Greenville — 9.7 percent, no change.
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton — 13 percent, down from 13.4 percent.
Jacksonville — 7.5 percent, no change.
Raleigh-Cary — 8.2 percent, down from 8.4 percent.
Rocky Mount — 12.9 percent, down from 13.1 percent..
Wilmington — 9.4 percent, down from 9.8 percent.
Winston-Salem — 9.4 percent, down from 9.5 percent.

Not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates show employment and unemployment conditions at the time the data
were collected. The rates are not adjusted to remove seasonal fluctuations and generally are not used in determining the significance of economic trends.

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