By By MIKE VOSS
Contributing Editor
Bucking the trend in the state, Beaufort County’s unemployment rate increased from June to July, according to data from the N.C. Employment Security Commission.
While more than half of the state’s 100 counties saw their jobless rates decline from June to July, Beaufort County’s unemployment rate increased from 11.4 percent in June to 11.6 percent in July, a 0.2 percent rise. A year ago, the county’s jobless rate was 8.1 percent. Three months ago and six months ago, the county’s unemployment rate was 11.1 percent.
In Hyde, Martin and Washington counties, jobless rates fell from June to July.
The state’s unemployment rate fell from 11.2 percent in June to 11.1 percent in July, according to ESC data.
“We just haven’t had any jobs for them to go to, and we have not had any significant layoffs in recent months,” said Patrick Oswalt, director of the ESC office in Washington, on Monday.
He expects the jobless rate in the coming months to hover around its current mark.
“I dont see anything negative or positive on the horizon,” Oswalt said.
In July, Beaufort County’s work force totaled 21,475 people, with 18,975 of them working and 2,500 unable to find work. In June, Beaufort County’s work force totaled 2,147 people, with 19,027 working and 2,447 without jobs.
As of Monday, county residents had received $1,085,774 in unemployment-insurance benefits during the past 30 days. So far this year, residents have received $7,665,179 in benefits.
Jobless rates dropped in 59 of the state’s 100 counties.
“Employment growth was modest in many of our counties in July,” said ESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. in a news release. “The coastal counties traditionally experience rate decreases due to tourism and the need for summer workers. The rest of the state had not had as much summer hiring compared to previous years, but there was enough to drop the rates in more than half of the state’s 100 counties.”
North Carolina had 48 counties which were at or below the state’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 11.1 percent in July. In July, Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 17.1 percent. In July, Hyde and Currituck counties had the lowest jobless rates at 5.5 percent.
Not one of the 100 counties had a jobless rate at 5 percent or below for July. Thirty-one counties had unemployment rates between 5 percent and 10 percent in June, with 69 counties experiencing jobless rates at or above 10 percent, according to ESC data.
Area jobless rates
and related information
Hyde County jobless rates
July: 5.5 percent
June: 6.2 percent
A year ago: 4.5 percent
Unemployment benefits paid in past 30 days: $25,665
Unemployment benefits paid year to date: $457,469
Martin County jobless rates
July: 11 percent
June: 11.2 percent
A year ago: 7 percent
Unemployment benefits paid in past 30 days: $388,533
Unemployment benefits paid year to date: $3,914,430
Washington County jobless rates
July: 12
June: 12.1 percent
A year ago: 7.9 percent
Unemployment benefits paid in past 30 days: $385,044
Unemployment benefits paid year to date: $2,866,538
Source: N.C. Employment Security Commission