Beaufort County’s unemployment rate increased slightly from June to July, rising from 4.7 percent in June to 4.9 percent in July, according to the Labor & Economics Analysis Division of the N.C. Department of Commerce.

In July, 93 of the state’s 100 counties experienced increases in their unemployment rates, three counties’ jobless rates decreased and four counties’ unemployment rates did not change from June to July, according to LEAD figures. The state’s unemployment rate increased from 4.2 percent in June to 4.5 percent in July.

Hyde County was one of those three counties that saw their jobless rates fall from June to July.

Among the state’s 100 counties in July, 68 of them had unemployment rates of 5 percent or lower, 32 counties had jobless rates between 5 percent and 10 percent and no county had a jobless rate of 10 percent or higher. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rates in July at 7.6 percent, according to LEAD data. Buncombe County had the lowest jobless rate in July at 3.4 percent.

“July marked the 8-year anniversary of economic growth according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Much has improved between Julys (2009 vs 2017): Unemployment Rate (10.7% to 4.1%); Unemployed (490,000 to 200,000); Non-Farm Employment (3.9 million to 4.4 million). While the expansion has been slow overall and uneven across all areas, it remains the 2nd longest of all time (to the 1990s). If the Philly Fed’s Leading Indicator Index is correct, the expansion won’t be ending soon. NC’s index score was its highest in nearly four years, and 12^th strongest among states for June,” the NC Commerce Department wrote in a news release.

All 15 of the state’s metropolitan areas experienced rate increases from June to July, according to LEAD data.

For July, Beaufort County’s workforce was at 20,495 people. Of that number, 19,496 people were on the job, leaving 999 without employment. In the previous month, Beaufort County’s workforce was at 20,2196 people. Of that number, 19,246 people were on the job, leaving 950 people without jobs.

Hyde County’s jobless rate decreased from 6.2 percent in June to 5.7 percent in July. In July 2016, its unemployment rate was at 6.8 percent.

From June to July, Martin County’s unemployment rate rose from at 5.5 percent to 5.6 percent. In July 2016, its jobless rate was at 7.2 percent.

Pitt County’s jobless rate was at 4.9 percent in June, increasing to 5.1 percent in July. In July 2016, its unemployment rate was at 6 percent.

Washington County’s unemployment rate increased from 6 percent in June to 6.2 percent in July. In July 2016, the county’s jobless rate was at 7 percent.

The Washington statistical area’s jobless rate in July was 4.9 percent, up from 4.7 percent from the previous month. The Greenville-Washington combined statistical area’s jobless rate for July was 5.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in June.

Of the state’s 15 metropolitan statistical areas, five of the five MSAs east of Interstate 95 and the Fayetteville MSA had the highest unemployment rates in July, all above or at the state rate of 4.5 percent, according to LEAD figures. The Wilmington MSA’s jobless rate for July was 4.2 percent. The Rocky Mount MSA was the highest in the state at 6.6 percent for July.

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.