South By North Strategies, Ltd.

The local employment report for November detailed few positive changes in local employment conditions across North Carolina.

In November, every part of the state experienced weak labor markets. Unemployment rates exceeded 10 percent in 68 counties, and in 33 counties, at least 12 percent of the labor force was jobless and actively seeking work. County unemployment rates ranged  from 6.3 percent in Orange County to 16.6 percent in Edgecombe County. Altogether, unemployment in the state’s non-metropolitan counties was higher than in its metropolitan ones — 11.8 percent versus 10.2 percent.

Compared to one year ago, unemployment rates were higher in every North Carolina County and metro area. And compared to a year ago, 59 counties and 10 metro areas had smaller labor forces. Among metropolitan areas, Jacksonville posted the largest decline in the size of its labor force (-2.8 percent), followed by Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir (-1.2 percent) and Durham-Chapel Hill (-1 percent).

Click here to read South by North Strategies’ full analysis of the latest employment report.