County's unemployment rate ticks upward
Aug. 3—RALEIGH — At 4.1%, Caldwell County's unemployment rate increased in June from May's rate of 3.6%.
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 98 of North Carolina's counties in June and decreased in two. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.0% while Orange and Buncombe Counties each had the lowest at 3.3%. All 15 of the state's metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 6.5% while Asheville and Durham-Chapel Hill each had the lowest at 3.4%. The June not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.1%, the same as Caldwell.
In Caldwell, 1,477 out of a workforce of 36,274 are listed as unemployed. The county ranks in the middle of the state's 100 counties, or 49th, with its current joblessness rate.
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in all 100 counties. All 15 of the state's metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year.
Last year, Caldwell County recorded an unemployment rate of 5.8% for the month of June. Of course, the state was still climbing out of the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in economic peril.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in June by 13,268 to 4,935,844, while those unemployed increased by 22,766 to 209,855. Since June 2021, the number of workers employed statewide increased 220,290, while those unemployed decreased 63,454.
It is important to note that employment estimates are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 19 when the state unemployment rate for July 2022 will be released.
