State jobless rate remains unchanged

Beaufort County’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 percent from July to August, increasing from 11.3 percent in July to 11.5 percent in August, according to information from the N.C. Employment Security Commission.

North Carolina’s unemployment rate remained unchanged from July to August at 10.4 percent.

“Just a lack of jobs,” said Patrick Oswalt, supervisor of the ESC office in Washington, when asked about double-digit jobless rates in Beaufort, Martin and Washington counties.

Oswalt expects jobless rates in the counties served by the Washington office to remain at current levels, with any changes amounting to just a few tenths of a percentage point each month.

“Not that I’m aware of. There’s nobody contacting us … about any hirings,” Oswalt said when asked if he saw any indications for significant jobs growth in the area in the near future.

“Just over half of North Carolina’s 100 counties stayed the same or decreased,” said ESC Chairman Lynn R. Holmes. “Looking at this month’s data, it is clear we must remain focused on assisting our customers with many services to help them find work in this static economy.”

Across the state, unemployment rates from July to August increased in 47 of the 100 counties, fell in 32 counties and remained the same in 21 counties, according to ESC information.

Beaufort County’s (civilian) work force for August totaled 20,939 people, according to ESC data. Out of that work force, 2,405 people were unemployed, with 18,534 people on the job. In July, the work force in Beaufort County came to 21,070 people. Of that number, 2,381 people were unable to secure employment, according to ESC data. That meant 18,689 members of that work force were earning paychecks.

In August, Hyde County’s work force came to 3,291 people, with 224 people unable to secure employment, according to ESC data. That meant 3,067 people were employed. Hyde County’s work force for July totaled 3,376 people. Of that work force, 3,152 people were on the job. That left 224 people unable to find work, according to ESC figures.

Martin County’s work force was 10,669 people strong in August, with 1,306 of that number without jobs, according to ESC data. Out of that work force, 9,363 people were working. In July, the work force in Martin County was at 10,662 people. Of that number, 9,368 people were drawing paychecks, according to ESC data. That meant 1,294 people could not find employment.

The work force for August in Washington County totaled 6,851 people, with 6,019 people on payrolls, according to ESC data. That left 832 people of that work force unemployed. Washington County’s work force in July totaled 6,938 people, with 840 of them unable to find work, according to ESC figures. The county had 6,098 members of its work force on the job in July.

For August, one county had a jobless rate at 5 percent or below. There were 29 counties with unemployment rates between 5 percent and 10 percent. Seventy counties had unemployment rates at 10 percent or higher, according to ESC figures.

Of the state’s 100 counties, Currituck County had the lowest jobless rate in August at 4.5 percent. Scotland County had the highest jobless rate in August at 17.6 percent.