February 2012 Vance County unemployment rates moved from a January 2012 rate of 15% to a February 2012 rate of 14.4%. This matches the February 2011 unemployment rate of 14.4%.
RALEIGH — Unemployment rates fell in 84 counties of North Carolina’s 100 counties in February. Rates increased
in 10 counties and were unchanged in six. Unemployment rates declined in 81 counties when compared
to the same month last year.
“A majority of North Carolina’s counties have lower unemployment rates compared to last year,” said N.C. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll. “While the over-the-year numbers are positive, we must
continue our focus on job growth across the state. We have employment service offices statewide to assist customers
with job search opportunities and other workforce related programs.”
North Carolina had 34 counties that were at or below the state’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate of 10.1
percent. Unemployment rates decreased in 13 of the 14 Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
The number of workers employed (not seasonally adjusted) increased in February by 17,939 to 4,184,386 and
those unemployed decreased 13,965 to 472,573. Since February 2011, the number unemployed decreased 27,787
and the number employed increased 82,956.
It is important to note that employment estimates are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable
to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted series.
North Carolina’s statewide unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 10.1 percent in February. This was a 0.4 of a percentage point decrease from January’s revised rate of 10.5 percent, and an 0.8 percentage-point decrease over the year.
Over the month, the unemployment rate decreased in 84 counties, increased in 10, and was unchanged in six. Thirty-four counties had unemployment rates at or below the state’s 10.1 percent rate.
Graham County recorded February’s highest unemployment rate at 20.7 percent, 0.2 of a percentage point higher than last month. Dare County had the second-highest rate at 19.1 percent. Orange County had the lowest unemployment rate at 6.3 percent, followed by Gates and Henderson, 7.7 percent; and Durham and Wake, 7.9 percent.
Unemployment rates decreased in 13 of the state’s 14 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (Metros) over the previous month. The Rocky Mount Metro had the highest unemployment rate in February at 13.3 percent. The Durham/Chapel Hill Metro had the lowest unemployment rate at 7.8 percent, which decreased 0.2 of a percentage point from the previous month. Raleigh/Cary followed at 8.1 percent.