South By North Strategies, Ltd.

Local labor market conditions across North Carolina remained weak in April, according to preliminary data released today by the Employment Security Commission. In April, 63 counties posted double-digit unemployment rates, and 23 counties recorded unemployment rates of at least 12 percent.

Every part of the state experienced weak labor markets in April. Unemployment rates exceeded 10 percent in 63 counties, and in 23 counties, at least 12 percent of the labor force was jobless and actively seeking work. County unemployment rates ranged from 5.8 percent in Currituck County to 15.8 percent in Scotland County.

Last month, unemployment rates fell in all 14 of the state’s metropolitan areas, and every metro but Rocky Mount netted jobs. Nevertheless, five metros posted double-digit unemployment rates. The Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir area had the highest unemployment rate (13.3 percent) followed by Rocky Mount (13 percent). The lowest metro unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in Durham-Chapel Hill.

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