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North Carolina's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October was 9.6 %, down 0.1 percentage points from September. The decrease in the unemployment rate is due to discouraged workers dropping out of the labor force, not employment gains. The state's unemployment rate is 1.3 percentage point lower than it was in October 2009, but 4.7 percentage points higher than it was at the start of the recession. In October, the national unemployment rate was 9.6% and recently released U.S. data has the national unemployment rate for November at 9.8 %. NC Labor Levels +LaborForce Jan. 2010 - Oct. 2010 #Employed 4,700,000 4,500,000 —.—�� 4,300,000 4,100, 000 M — 3,900,000 3,700,000 N. C. Employment Security Commission, Lob or Force Statistics A leading indicator of future unemployment rates are initial unemployment benefit claims. New initial claimants totaled 57,144 in October, an increase of 10,394 from September. Claims are still elevated above pre- recession levels but have been displaying a downward trend since January of 2009. The top five occupations of those claiming unemployment for the first time are: 1) Laborers and Freight, Stock, & Material Movers (hand); 2) Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor - Trailer; 3) Cashiers; 4) Production Workers, All Other; 5) Helpers of Production Workers. 62% of the workers in the top twenty occupations fall into three major occupational categories: Construction and Extraction, Production and Transportation & Material Moving. Unemployrmnt rates, continue wjear4ong declining trend statewide and formost countles Unemployment rates are declining for most counties in North Carolina. In October only two counties had unemployment rates at or above 14 %, Edgecombe and Scotland Counties. Three counties have an unemployment rate below 6% this month, compared to only two counties below 6% in September of this year. The counties below 6% this month are Hyde (5.9 %), Orange (5.5 %), and Currituck (4.9 %). Five of the 10 counties with the lowest unemployment rate for October were in the Northeast Partnership ED Region. While Currituck, Chatham, Hyde, Dare, and Orange counties have been among the top 5 counties in unemployment for the last five months Camden has moved into the top 5 since September. When looking at unemployed population totals Mecklenburg County has the largest number of unemployed workers in the state. They make up nearly 11% of the unemployed population and 10.2% of the total state labor force. Twelve Month Unemployment Rate by County (November 2009 — October 2010) Unemployment Rate 6.3 %- 7.8% (75% or less of state average) 7.8 %- 10.4% (Below state average) - 10.4% - 13.0% (Above state average) mingtan - 13.0% -16.1% (125% or more of state avenge) Interstate T u e I v a State's current seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate is 9.6% - NORTH Map Created December 2010 i Source: NC Employment Security Commission. County data is not seasonally adjusted. Data at the state level used for purposes of comparison is over the same time period as county data, and has been seaso adjusted. C AROLINA Policy, Research & Strategic Planning; November 2010 Report AN number 2 1 -1