Both the number of available workers and those with a job in Northeastern North Carolina declined again in September, while the unemployment rate across the region also went down from August and for the year.
According to figures released by the N.C. Department of Commerce, the eligible workforce in the 12-county area in September was 95,923, with 92,652 employed.
That’s a decline in the workforce of 1,057 and 343 employed residents when compared to August.
The drops primarily reflect the amount of seasonal jobs that came to an end for the summer, along with students that headed back to school and either left the local workforce or departed the region entirely.
Compared to September 2022, the workforce in northeastern N.C. grew by 474. The number of working residents was up 650 this year.
In the Outer Banks counties of Dare, Currituck and Hyde, available workers totaled 37,853 (-1,143 from August) and there were 36,838 with a job (-142 from August).
From last September, the workforce in the three OBX counties grew 406 and the number employed by 503.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in September by 53,039 to 5,134,777, while those unemployed decreased by 18,714 to 170,391.
Since September 2022, the number of workers employed statewide increased 142,319, while those unemployed decreased 7,967.
The region’s unemployment rate was 3.4 percent for September, dropping from 3.7 percent in August. The Outer Banks counties jobless rate was 2.7 percent in September, declining from 3.0 percent the previous month.
Bertie had the highest unemployment rate of 4.8 percent in September. Currituck and Dare each had the area’s lowest rate at 2.7 percent.
Tyrrell County was one of just two counties in North Carolina to experience an increase in the jobless rate, rising from 3.8 to 3.9 percent for the month.
The 12 county region’s unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percent from September 2022, and the Outer Banks went down 0.3 percent.
Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.6 percent this September, while Swain and Buncombe Counties each had the lowest at 2.5 percent.
All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.5 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 2.7 percent.
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in 90 counties, increased in four, and remained unchanged in six. Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year and one remained unchanged.
