Staff report

Unemployment rates decreased in 98 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in March, increased in one, and remained unchanged in another.

Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 12.3 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.7 percent.

All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Rocky Mount — at 6.6 percent — had the highest rate, and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.9 percent.

The statewide rate for March was 4.7 percent.

Rowan County’s rate is 4.9 percent, down from 5.2 in February and 5.3 percent in March 2016. Still, the county has the highest rate in the area.

Cabarrus County’s rate also fell, to 4.3 percent from 4.5 in March. The March 2016 rate was also 4.5 percent.

Rates in counties surrounding Rowan were:

• Davidson: 4.2 percent for March, down from 4.8 in February. The March 2016 rate was also 4.8 percent.

• Davie: 4.2 percent, down from 4.4 in February. The March 2016 was 4.5 percent.

• Iredell: 4.4 percent, down from 4.7 percent in February and 4.8 percent in March 2016.

• Stanly: 4.3 percent, down from 4.6 percent in February and 4.6 percent in March 2016.

This month, Rowan County’s workforce was listed as 66,566, up from the 66,226 workers listed in February. In February, Rowan was ranked 48th in the state. In March, it ranked 45th.

Cabarrus County’s ranking is 14th, with a labor force of 103,470. Cabarrus’ ranking was 17th in February.

Davie County has a smaller workforce, 20,385, but also has a higher ranking of 12th because of its 4.3 percent unemployment rate. Davie was ranked 10th in February.

Stanly’s workforce was 29,945, ranked 16th. Its ranking was 18th in February.

Iredell comes in at 17th, with a workforce of 86,858. It was ranked 20th in February.

Davidson’s ranking is 30th, with a workforce of 80,497. Its rank is unchanged from February.