Jobless rate drops in Wayne
By Ty Johnson
Published in News on August 27, 2012 1:46 PM
The latest jobs data from the N.C. Department of Commerce reveals a mixed bag of increases and decreases in the unemployment rate across the state from June to July, with rates declining in 47 counties, increasing in 26 and remaining the same in 27.
Wayne County was among those that saw decreases, as its rate ticked down from June's mark of 9 percent to 8.9 percent in July.
In the release, Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll points out that, despite the mixed bag of month-to-month rate changes, unemployment rates are down compared to last July in 94 of the state's 100 counties.
Wayne's unemployment rate was a full percentage point lower than July 2011, when the rate was 9.9 percent -- a good sign according to the manager of the local Division of Workforce Solutions office.
"As far as our job orders are concerned, they're holding pretty steady," Darlene Williams said.
Mrs. Williams said growth in Wayne County's job sector can be attributed to hires in the local retail and manufacturing sectors.
Johnston County had the most significant decrease in the area, with a rate of 8.4 percent in July -- down from 8.6 percent in June and an improvement on last July's 9.8 percent.
Wilson County's unemployment rate was down from June's 13.6 percent to 13.5 percent in July, but showed nearly a full percentage point improvement from July 2011 when the rate was 14.4 percent.
Greene, Lenoir and Sampson counties had rates that remained the same from month to month, recording marks of 10.8, 10.7 and 8.7 percent, respectively. All were improvements from their rates last July.
Duplin County bucked the local trend as its rate increased from June's 9.8 percent mark to 9.9 percent in July. Its rate this year was still an improvement of 0.7 percentage points from July 2011, though.
There were 34 counties at or below the state's overall rate of 9.8 percent, with Scotland County emerging as the county with the highest unemployment rate at 17.6 percent.
Currituck County's 4.7 percent unemployment rate was the lowest in North Carolina.