Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in January, according to a report from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
Macon County had a workforce of 15,005 in January with 507 people unemployed (3.4%). That was an increase over the 2.6% unemployment rate in December 2021. But by comparison, the January 2022 was a significant improvement from January 2021, when the unemployment rate was 5.7 percent. Macon County ranked 30th in the state on the January 2022 unemployment report.
Regionally, the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area had a 3.1% unemployment rate with 7,171 people unemployed out of the 229,100 people in the workforce. The Cullowhee Micropolitan Statistical Area has a workforce of 17,965 people with 680 people unemployed (3.8%).
Across the state, Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.1% while Orange County had the lowest at 2.6%. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 6% while Durham-Chapel Hill had the lowest at 3% percent. The January not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.8%.
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in all 100 counties. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in January by 17,221 to 4,815,473, while those unemployed increased by 28,831 to 189,501. Since January 2021, the number of workers employed statewide increased 251,045, while those unemployed decreased 96,959.
The Department of Commerce states 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 estimates.
State unemployment report
The U.S. Department of Labor released the state employment and unemployment report for February 2022 on March 25.
Unemployment rates were lower in February in 31 states and the District of Columbia and stable in 19 states, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. All 50 states and the District had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier. The national unemployment rate, 3.8 percent, edged down by 0.2 percentage point over the month and was 2.4 points lower than in February 2021.
North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased slightly from 3.9% in January to 3.7% in February. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rated in February 2021 was 5.4%.