Beaufort County’s unemployment rate decreased slightly from November 2015 to December 2015, according to the Labor & Economics Analysis Division of the N.C. Department of Commerce.

The county’s unemployment rate fell from 6.3 percent in November 2015 to 6.2 percent in December 2015. The county’s unemployment rate in December 2014 was 5.9 percent, according to LEAD data.

Seventy of the state’s 100 counties saw their unemployment rates decline from November 2015 to December 2015, according to LEAD figures.

As usual, the western counties led the way with many of the lowest jobless rates in the state. Of the 15 metropolitan statistical areas, the six MSAs east of Interstate 95 and the Fayetteville MSA had the highest unemployment rates, all above the state average of 5.3 percent, according to LEAD figures.

“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,” according to Commerce Department news release.

Beaufort County’s workforce totaled 19,856 people in December 2015, with 18,627 of them bringing home paychecks. That left 1,229 members of that workforce unable to secure employment, according to LEAD data. Beaufort County’s workforce for November 2015 was at 19,949 people, with 1,280 of them unable to secure employment, according to LEAD data.

In December 2015, 26 of the state’s 100 counties had unemployment rates of 5 percent or lower, 71 counties had jobless rates between 5 percent and 10 percent and three counties had jobless rates of 10 percent or higher. Graham County had the highest unemployment rate in December 2015 at 12 percent, with Buncombe County having the lowest jobless rate in December 2015 at 3.9 percent, according to LEAD figures.

Beaufort County’s unemployment rate (factoring in the number of reported jobless people) for December 2015 ranked 69^th in the state. In the previous month, it was ranked 70^th in the state, according to LEAD figures. The Washington statistical area’s unemployment rate was at 6.2 percent in December 2015, down from 6.3 percent November 2015, according to LEAD figures. The Greenville-Washington combined statistical area’s jobless rate decreased from 5.8 percent in November 2015 to 5.7 percent in December 2015.

Hyde County’s jobless rate increased by 3 percentage points from November 2015 to December 2015, going from 8.6 percent to 11.6 percent, according to LEAD figures. In December 2014, the county’s unemployment rate was at 10.6 percent.

Martin County’s unemployment rate dropped from 7.5 percent in November 2015 to 7.2 percent in December 2015, according to LEAD statistics. In December 2014, the county’s jobless rate was at 6.4 percent.

Pitt County’s unemployment rate fell from 5.7 percent in November 2014 to 5.6 percent in December 2015, according to LEAD data. The county’s jobless rate for December 2014 was at 5.1 percent.

Washington County’s unemployment rate increased from 8.9 percent in November 2015 to 9 percent in December 2015. For December 2014, the county’s jobless rate was at 7.9 percent, according to LEAD figures.

The jobless figures released by the Commerce Department do not include unemployed people whose unemployment insurance benefits expired and who are not listed as unemployed. Factor in those people and a county’s true jobless rate is higher.