New Hanover County’s unemployment rate improved slightly in August to stand with the 72 North Carolina counties that saw a faintly brighter jobs report Friday.
The county logged a 9.2 percent jobless rate for the month, compared to 9.4 percent in July.
During the same time in 2011, the rate was 10.3 percent.
New Hanover’s current standing represents 9,765 persons jobless in a labor force of 106,460, according to the report, issued by the N.C. Department of Commerce.
The rate is healthier than the state’s overall 9.7-percent for August, but the reports were dimmer for Brunswick and Pender counties, even though they rang in better month-over-month numbers.
In Brunswick County, a 10.5 percent unemployment rate recognized more than 5,000 without jobs. Its rate was 11 percent the month prior.
Pender County’s 11-percent rate recognized more than 2,600 jobless, though its labor force is considerably smaller. Its rate was 11.2 percent in July.
It came out to a 9.8 percent unemployment rate for the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which covers New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties. Collectively, they had 17,666 persons unemployed in a labor force of 180,518.
According to the state’s monthly release, 72 of the state’s 100 counties saw better figures than in the month prior.
The state’s best rate was with Currituck County, whose unemployment was 4.7 percent. The highest rate-holder was Scotland County with 17.2 percent.
