Beaufort County being no exception, each of the state’s 100 counties experienced increases in their unemployment rates from December 2016 to January of this year, according to information compiled by the Labor & Economics Analysis Division of the N.C. Department of Commerce.

Beaufort County’s unemployment rate increased from 5.5 percent in the last month of 2016 to 6.3 percent in January, according to LEAD figures. The state’s jobless rate rose from 4.9 percent in December to 5.5 percent in January.

“The thing is, over the holidays into January, the information is normally a little bit different because most companies tend to … be down for the holidays, so there’s not a lot of activities. Things tend to pick back up in mid-January through the end of the year again. Right now, we’re seeing a steady action that’s coming into the office asking for employment assistance as well as education and training assistance,” said Darone Dancy, manager at Beaufort County NCWorks. “I would say I am working with various new employers in Washington that are looking for potential job-seekers. So, for us, we’re on an uptick with helping employers find job applicants.”

Among the state’s 100 counties in January, 16 of them had unemployment rates of 5 percent or lower, 80 counties had jobless rates between 5 percent and 10 percent and four counties had a jobless rate of 10 percent or higher. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate in January at 16.3 percent, according to LEAD data. Buncombe County had the lowest jobless rate in January at 4.3 percent. All 15 of the state’s metropolitan areas experienced rate increases from December to January.

After Hyde County, Tyrrell County and Dare County had the next highest jobless rates in the state at 14.2 percent and 13 percent, respectively. The three counties, which adjoin one another, have strong commercial-fishing industries, which are seasonal. In the winter months, many commercial-fishing activities decline, resulting in the layoffs of seasonal workers.

In an email, Beth Ann Gargan, assistant secretary for communications and external affairs at the Commerce Department, wrote: “Here is what we’re able to tell you about trends in the unemployment data for these three counties:

• Hyde, Dare, and Tyrell counties had the largest over-the-month unemployment rates increases in January 2017.

• This is because these three areas have highly seasonal economies. For perspective, these three counties were all in the top 5 for January unemployment rate increases in 2016, 2015, and 2014.”

She also wrote: “Here’s what we know from the jobs (QCEW) data:

• In January 2016, the largest over-the-month employment declines in Dare County were in the accommodation; real estate; professional, scientific, and technical; merchant wholesales, nondurable; and clothing and clothing accessories stores sectors.

• Please note that data for certain major employers at the county level are non-disclosable due to confidentiality safeguards. Thus data for certain regionally-important industries may be omitted.”

For January, Beaufort County’s jobless rated was ranked 65^th in the state.

In January, Beaufort County’s workforce totaled 20,269 people, with 1,279 of them unable to secure employment and 18,990 members of the workforce on the job, according to LEAD data. Beaufort County’s workforce for December came to 20,367 people, with 19,250 on the job and earning paychecks. That left 1,117people in that workforce without employment, according to LEAD data.

Hyde County’s jobless rate increased from 11.6 percent in December to 16.3 percent in January. In January 2016, its unemployment rate was at 15.5 percent.

From December to January, Martin County’s unemployment rate increased from 6.7 percent to 7.4 percent. In January 2016, its jobless rate was at 8 percent.

Pitt County’s jobless rate was at 5.3 percent in December, rising to 5.8 percent in January. In January 2016, its unemployment rate was at 5.9 percent.

Washington County’s unemployment rate increased from 7.9 percent in December to 8.8 percent in January. In January 2016, the county’s jobless rate was at 9.7 percent.

The Washington statistical area’s jobless rate in January was 6.3 percent, up from 5.5 percent from the previous month. The Greenville-Washington combined statistical area’s jobless rate for January was 5.9 percent, up from 5.3 percent in December.

Of the state’s 15 metropolitan statistical areas, five of the six MSAs east of Interstate 95 and the Fayetteville MSA had the highest unemployment rates in January, all above or at the state rate of 5.5 percent, according to LEAD figures. The Wilmington MSA’s jobless rate for January was 5.3 percent. The Rocky Mount MSA was the highest at 7.9 percent for January.

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.