SALISBURY — The unemployment rate for May increased in 95 counties, decreased in three and remained the same in two, according to data released last week by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

In Rowan County, the unemployment rate increased 0.5% from April to May of 2019 — from 3.5% to 4%. In Rowan, there were 68,124 people in the labor force and 2,746 people not employed, according to N.C. Department of Commerce data.

Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate, at 6.8%. Buncombe County had the lowest, at 3.1%.

The statewide unemployment rate for May was 4%.

The number of workers employed statewide increased in May. The rise in employed workers went up by 30,301 people — to 4.92 million — while the number of unemployed workers went up by 25,786 — to 205,783.

Data released last week was not seasonally adjusted. That means data had not been adjusted to remove the influence of predictable, seasonal patterns.

In counties adjacent to Rowan, the unemployment rates for May were:

• 3.7% in Iredell County, an increase of 0.5% from April

• 3.5% in Davie County, an increase of 0.5% from April.

• 3.8% in Davidson County, an increase of 0.4% from April.

• 3.9% in Stanly County, an increase of 0.6% from April.

Since May 2018, the number of employees statewide increased by 95,684, while those unemployed increased by 22,725, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.