AG 2011 01 18 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The change in the labor force was small, but the shifting of workers from employed to unemployed was the main factor in the unemployment rate increase of 0.1 percentage points. The state's unemployment rate is 1.0 percentage point lower than it was in November 2009, but 4.9 percentage points higher than it was at the start of the recession. In November, the national unemployment rate was 9.8 percent and recently released U.S. data has the national unemployment rate for December at 9.8 percent. NC Labor Levels Labor Force Jan. 2010 - Nov. 2010 Employed 4700000 - - - - - - -- —._. 4600000 - 4500000 — 4400000 - - -- - - - -- 4300000 4200000 – -- 4100000 -- — - 4000000 3900000 3800000 3700000 ti 0 O , O ti 0 O , O ti 0 ti 0 ti 0 O O I �a P Q l a c �J Q �yQ C �o N.C. Employment Security Commission, Labor Force Statistics A leading indicator of future unemployment rates are initial unemployment benefit claims. New initial claimants totaled 57,943 in November, an increase of 799 from October. The top five occupations of those claiming unemployment for the first time are: 1) Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers (hand); 2) Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor - Trailer; 3) Production Workers, All Other; 4) Cashiers; 5) Helpers of Production Workers. Nearly two - thirds (65 %) of the workers in the top twenty occupations fall into three major occupational categories: Construction and Extraction, Production and Transportation & Material Moving. The monthly unemployment rate increased for 99 counties since last month Unemployment rates reversed their recent downward trend for nearly every North Carolina County. Only one county did not experience month - over -month increases in the unemployment rate, Davie County. In Davie County's case the unemployment rate remained unchanged from October to November. Of the counties that experienced an unemployment rate increase the average increase in unemployment rate was .92 percentage points. One county has an unemployment rate below 6 percent this month, Orange County, compared to three counties below 6 percent in October. Four of the 10 counties with the lowest unemployment rate for November are in the Research Triangle Regional Partnership. Currituck, Chatham, Hyde, Dare, and Orange counties have been among the top five counties in unemployment for the last 6 months. This month Hyde and Dare fell from the top 5. They were replaced by Gates and Watauga counties, which have the 4 and 5 lowest unemployment rates for November, respectively. Policy, Research & Strategic Planning; December 2010 Report 1 -1 Page 626 Previous Month Last Year -Same Month Oct NOV (9 /lO compared tol0 /10) (10 /lOcomparedtol0 /09) 12 Month Average Change I %than a Change % Change (Beg. ofl2 /09 End ofll /10) North Carol i na 52,435 56,952 4,5171 8.6% 32,804 - 36.59b 68,219 The monthly unemployment rate increased for 99 counties since last month Unemployment rates reversed their recent downward trend for nearly every North Carolina County. Only one county did not experience month - over -month increases in the unemployment rate, Davie County. In Davie County's case the unemployment rate remained unchanged from October to November. Of the counties that experienced an unemployment rate increase the average increase in unemployment rate was .92 percentage points. One county has an unemployment rate below 6 percent this month, Orange County, compared to three counties below 6 percent in October. Four of the 10 counties with the lowest unemployment rate for November are in the Research Triangle Regional Partnership. Currituck, Chatham, Hyde, Dare, and Orange counties have been among the top five counties in unemployment for the last 6 months. This month Hyde and Dare fell from the top 5. They were replaced by Gates and Watauga counties, which have the 4 and 5 lowest unemployment rates for November, respectively. Policy, Research & Strategic Planning; December 2010 Report 1 -1 Page 626