SALISBURY — Closing out 2018, Rowan County’s December 2018 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, increasing .3 percent from the previous month.

Compared to December 2017, Rowan County still has a lower rate, decreasing by .7 percent.

Statewide in December, the unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, compared to 3.5 percent in November and 4.3 percent in 2017.

Cabarrus County’s unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, increasing .3 percent from the previous month and decreasing .5 percent from 2017.

Other neighboring counties’ unemployment rates are:

• Davidson at 3.6 percent, up from 3.3 percent in November 2018 and down from 4.1 percent in 2017.

• Davie at 3.3 percent, increasing .3 percent from November 2018 and decreasing .8 percent of the previous year.

• Iredell at 3.4 percent, compared to 3.4 percent in November 2018 and 4.1 percent in 2017.

• Stanly at 3.5 percent, up from 3.2 percent in November 2018 and down from 4.1 percent in December 2017.

In 99 counties, the unemployment rate increased from the previous month. One county saw no change in rate.

Comparing from the previous year, 99 counties saw a drop in their unemployment rate. 

The North Carolina Department of Commerce recommends to compare for over the year changes and not month-by-month due to seasonal work.