Southeastern North Carolina’s unemployment situation improved in March, according to figures the state released Wednesday.
New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties all posted jobless rates below the double-digit line, which the latter two had nosed above the month prior.
More importantly, they all showed over-the-year improvement. The figures, released by the N.C. Department of Commerce, aren’t adjusted for seasonal changes in the markets and the state advises observers to focus their comparisons on numbers going back a full year.
New Hanover County, with a labor force of 107,671 in March, came in with an 8.8-percent unemployment rate. That’s down from 9.7 percent the month prior and 9.1 percent in March 2012. The latest figure represents an estimated 9,431 residents unemployed.
Brunswick County’s rate for March was 9.9 percent in a labor force of 50,798. That rate is down from 11.2 percent in February and 10.7 percent the year prior. The latest figure represents an estimated 5,009 residents unemployed.
In Pender County, with a labor force of 24,279, a March 9.9-percent rate beat out February’s 10.9 percent and March 2012’s 11.2 percent. The latest figure represents 2,409 people without jobs there.
North Carolina overall marked an 8.9-percent jobless rate for March, a half-percentage-point decline over the year.
Compared to the month prior, the unemployment rates improved in 78 counties and worsened in 14. Eight counties saw rates unchanged.
Graham County ranked with the highest unemployment rate at 17.8 percent; Orange County had the best at 5.6 percent.
The next release of figures is scheduled for May 17 and will regard the statewide unemployment picture.
