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Watauga, Avery September Unemployment Rate Down from August, Year Ago; Both Now Under 10 Percent

By Paul T. Choate

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Nov. 2, 2012. Today, Nov. 2, the North Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Employment Security released the county, metropolitan area and micropolitan area unemployment rates for the month of September 2012. 

Watauga and Avery counties both had lower unemployment rates compared to August 2012 and were also both down from one year ago.

Watauga County’s rate was down one percent from August and had a 1.2 percent decrease in the over-the-year rate. The September unemployment rate for Watauga was 7.3 percent.

As for Avery County, their over-the-month change from August to September was a decrease of 0.6 percent, with their over-the-year change a decrease of 0.5 percent. The September unemployment rate for Avery was 9.9 percent. 

Boone’s micropolitan statistical area September unemployment rate was the same as Watauga County’s, at 7.3 percent. This represents a decrease of one percent from August and a 1.2 percent decrease from September 2011. 

Unemployment rates decreased in 97 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in September, increased in one, and were unchanged in two. When compared to the same month last year, unemployment rates declined in all 100 counties.

The September unemployment rate for the state was 8.9 percent.

Carrituck County in Northeastern North Carolina reported the lowest September rate, at 5.1 percent. Scotland County, near Fayetteville, reported the highest September rate at 16.1 percent. 

The state unemployment rate for October will be released on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012.

For more information, visit ncesc.com