Unemployment rates decreased in the majority of North Carolina’s counties in November. Rates decreased in 74 counties, increased in 20 and remained the same in six.
The rate for November 2011 in Rowan County was 10.6 percent, compared to 10.8 percent in October 2011 and 11.8 percent in November 2010.
For Cabarrus County, the rate has gone down to 9.4 percent for November 2011, compared to 9.8 percent in October 2011 and 10.2 percent in November 2010.
North Carolina had 39 counties that were at or below the state’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 9.5 percent. Rates decreased in all 14 of the state’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
The number of persons employed (not-seasonally adjusted) decreased slightly in November to 4,069,246. The number of people unemployed decreased by 12,528. The number of people unemployed in November was 427,141 compared to 439,669 in October.
In other counties surrounding Rowan, unemployment was
• Davidson — 10.3 percent in November 2011, compared to 10.7 percent in October 2011 and 11.5 in November 2010.
• Davie — dropped to 9.9 percent in November 2011, from 10.5 in October 2011; the rate was 9.1 percent in November 2010.
• Iredell — 10 percent in November 2011; 10.2 percent in October 2011; 11.3 percent in November 2010.
• Stanly — 10.2 percent in November 2011; 10.5 percent in October 2011; 11.3 percent in November 2010.
North Carolina’s statewide unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 9.5 percent in November. This was a 0.2 of a percentage point decrease from October’s revised rate of 9.7 percent, and a .4 percentage-point decrease over the year.
Thirty-nine counties had unemployment rates at or below the state’s 9.5 percent rate.
Scotland County recorded November’s highest unemployment rate at 16.6 percent, 0.2 of a percentage point lower than last month. Edgecombe County had the second-highest rate at 15.5 percent. Orange County had the lowest unemployment rate at 5.8 percent, followed by Gates, 6.9 percent; Polk, 7.1 percent; and Buncombe, Currituck and Watauga, 7.2 percent.
Rowan County unemployment benefits from December 2010 to November 2011 totaled $61,281,156.
• Cabarrus — $81,242,132.
• Davidson — $71,789,126.
• Davie — $17,225,436.
• Iredell — $71,122,665.
• Stanly — $25,716,758.