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June Unemployment Figures In High Country: Watauga – 8.2 Percent, Avery – 10.1 Percent, Ashe – 11.4 Percent

July 30, 2013. June unemployment figures for the High Country – Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties – came in mixed compared to May.

  • Watauga County’s June unemployment rate was 8.2 percent, rising .1 percent from May and decreasing .5 percent over the last 12 months.
  • Avery County’s June unemployment rate was 10.1 percent, decreasing .2 percent from May and decreasing 1 percent over the last 12 months.
  • Ashe County’s June unemployment rate was 11.4 percent, increasing .4 percent from May and increasing .3 percent over the last 12 months.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 81 of North Carolina’s counties in June, decreased in 14 and remained the same in five. All 14 of the State’s metro areas experienced rate increases.

Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 16.2 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 5.8 percent. Among the Metro areas, Rocky Mount at 13.3 percent experienced the highest rate and Asheville at 7.1 percent had the lowest. The June not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 9.3 percent.

When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates increased in 12 counties, fell in 85 and remained unchanged in three. One metro area experienced a rate increase, while 13 experienced rate decreases.

The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in June by 16,445 to 4,303,424, while those unemployed increased 16,163 to 439,793. Since June 2012, the number of workers employed statewide increased 11,966, while those unemployed decreased 26,257.

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.

The statewide unemployment rate release for July 2013 is scheduled for Monday, August 19, 2013.

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