By By MIKE VOSS
Contributing Editor
Unemployment rates in Beaufort, Hyde, Washington and Martin counties rose from June to July, according to the N.C. Employment Security Commission.
Unemployment in 97 of the state’s 100 counties increased from June to July. The state’s unemployment rate for July was 6.8 percent, according to ESC data released Friday. July was the first time the state’s jobless rate had been at that level since August 2003. The nation’s jobless rate for July was 5.7 percent.
He also said the continuing increase in the state’s jobless rate is a reflection of the nation’s worsening economy.
Beaufort County’s jobless rate rose 1.2 percent from June to July, climbing from 6.8 percent to 8 percent. The county’s unemployment rate has steadily increased this year.
The county’s work force was at 22,487 workers in July, with 1,792 of them without jobs and 20,695 with jobs. The county’s work force for June was at 22,050 people, with 20,548 of them with jobs. That left 1,502 people unable to find work.
Hyde County’s unemployment rate increased by .01 percent from June to July, rising from 4.7 percent to 4.8 percent.
Hyde County’s work force for July totaled 3,102 workers, with 149 of them without work. That left 2,953 members of the work force employed. In Hyde County, there were 3,062 people in the labor force during June, with 2,916 of them employed. That left 146 members of the labor force unable to find jobs.
Martin County’s jobless rate rose .04 percent from June to July, going from 5.8 percent to 6.2 percent.
In Martin County, the work force for July totaled 12,130 people, with 11,264 of them working and 875 of them without jobs. In Martin County, there were 12,156 people in the labor force during June, with 11,341 of them employed. That left 815 members of the work force unable to find jobs.
The unemployment rate in Washington County increased from 7.1 percent in June to 7.7 percent in July, a rise of .06 percent.
The work force for July in Washington County totaled 6,687 workers, with 6,175 with jobs and 512 without work.
In July, six counties experienced unemployment rates less than 5 percent. Of the state’s 100 counties, 92 had jobless rates from 5 percent to 10 percent in July. Two counties had jobless rates higher than 10 percent in July.
In June, 14 counties had jobless rates less than 5 percent. Eighty-four counties had unemployment rates from 5 percent to 10 percent in June. Two counties had jobless rates higher than 10 percent.
In North Carolina, total county employment (not-seasonally adjusted) rose in July by 31,453 workers from 4,316,413 Not-seasonally adjusted unemployment increased by 34,622. The jobless total in July was 317, 972 residents compared with 283,350 in June.
For the third month in a row, each of the state’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas saw its jobless rate increase. Forty-five counties were at or below the state’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 6.8 percent, which was up from June’s jobless rate of 6.2 percent.
Currituck County had the state’s lowest jobless rate for July with 3.8 percent. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate for July with 11.7 percent.