Watauga jobless
rate stays low
By Frank Ruggiero
ruggiero@wataugademocrat.com

Watauga County again made high marks in low unemployment.

According to the Employment Security Commission (ESC) of North Carolina, Watauga had the third lowest unemployment rate in the state at 4.2 percent in February, seeing an increase of .4 percent from January and following suit with the majority of North Carolina counties.

“Due to seasonal factors, we tend to experience rate increases this time of year,” ESC chairman Harry Payne said in a press release, adding that 58 of the 72 counties with increased unemployment saw increases of three-tenths of a percentage point or less. “These increases are likely due, in part, to seasonal fluctuations and the current economic situation.”

Traditionally, Watauga County sees employment boosts during the winter tourist season, when ski slopes are open and the demand for hospitality jobs is up.

A press release from the ESC reports that throughout the state, total county employment decreased in February by 17,698 workers, from 4,272,980 to 4,255,282.

Orange County had the state’s lowest rate of 3.6 percent, up .2 percent from January, while Wake County’s came in second with a rate of 4 percent, also up .2 percent.

Watauga County’s rate increased .4 percent from January to 4.2 percent in February, sharing the same rate with Polk and Henderson counties. In February, Boone had a labor force of 25,707, with 24,632 employed and 1,075 unemployed.

Respectively, Ashe and Avery counties had rates of 6.9 and 6.1 percent, seeing increases of .7 and .2 percent. Hyde County had the state’s highest rate of 11.7 percent, up .5 from January.

The statewide, unadjusted unemployment rate for February was 5.4 percent.

“Our state experienced six months of increasing employment prior to February,” Payne said. “While we are not happy that employment dropped slightly last month, the vital signs of North Carolina’s economy remain strong.”

The ESC reported that seasonally adjusted, total non-farm industry employment decreased by 3,700 jobs over the past month and increased by 63,500 since February 2007 to 4,186,000.

According to ESC data, the largest over-the-month increase was in educational and health services, which saw a boost of 1,100, while the largest decrease saw professional and business services dip by 2,100.

For more information, visit www.ncesc.com or call the Watauga County ESC at (828) 265-5385.