Beaufort County’s unemployment rate declined from April to May, falling from 5.9 percent to 5.3 percent, according to information compiled by the Labor & Economics Analysis Division of the N.C. Department of Commerce.

The county was among 98 of the state’s 100 counties that saw their unemployment rates fall from April to May. Unemployment rates did not change in the other two counties during that period.

The state’s unemployment rate fell from 5 percent in April to 4.7 percent in May. In May 2016, the state’s jobless rate was at 6 percent, according to LEAD figures.

Among the state’s 100 counties in May, 55 of them had unemployment rates of 5 percent or lower, 45 counties had jobless rates between 5 percent and 10 percent and no counties had jobless rates of 10 percent or higher. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate in May at 8.6 percent, with Buncombe County having the lowest jobless rate in May at 3.5 percent, according to LEAD figures.

“North Carolina’s economy continued its steady expansion through May. The state’s preliminary unemployment estimate reached a rate unseen since February 2008. An increase in housing permits and a drop in unemployment insurance claims suggest that the economy isn’t about to sharply turn south in the short-term. However, the decline in job postings and reduction in manufacturing hours could foreshadow slower growth due in part to uncertainties, political and economic, at home and abroad — something worth watching,” according a department spokesman.

An increase in seasonal summer employment is a major factor in jobless rates across the state falling, according to state workforce officials. A substantial number of the seasonal jobs can be found in the state’s coastal areas, especially tourist beaches such as the Outer Banks, Emerald Isle, Topsail Beach and Wrightsville Beach, according to those officials.

In May, Beaufort County’s workforce was at 20,142 people. Of that number, 1,074 people were not employed, according to LEAD data, and 19,068 people were taking home paychecks. Beaufort County’s workforce for April was at 20,240 people, with 19,046 of those people on the job, leaving 1,194 without work, according to LEAD data.

Beaufort County’s unemployment rate (factoring in the number of reported jobless people) for May ranked 69^th in the state. Its April jobless rate ranked 70th in the state, according to LEAD figures.

Hyde County’s jobless rate fell from 9.3 percent in April to 7.5 percent in May. In May 2015, its unemployment rate was at 8 percent.

From April to May, Martin County’s unemployment rate dropped from 6.7 percent to 6.2 percent. In May 2015, its jobless rate was at 7.8 percent.

Pitt County’s jobless rate was at 5.4 percent in May, unchanged from the previous month. In May 2015, its unemployment rate was at 6.6 percent.

Washington County’s unemployment rate declined from 7.5 percent in April to 7 percent in May. In May 2015, the county’s jobless rate was at 8.9 percent.

The Washington statistical area’s jobless rate in May was 5.3 percent, down from 5.9 percent in the previous month. The Greenville-Washington combined statistical area’s jobless rate decreased from 5.5 percent in April to 5.5 percent in May.

Of the state’s 15 metropolitan statistical areas, each of the six MSAs east of Interstate 95, the Greensboro/High Point MSA and the Fayetteville MSA had the highest unemployment rates in May, all above or at the state average of 4.7 percent, according to LEAD figures. The Wilmington MSA’s jobless rate for May was 4.4 percent.

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.