Local jobless rate

rises; not so with

regional rate
By Scott Nicholson

Watauga County’s unemployment rate rose in June, though regional unemployment rates decreased last month.

According to North Carolina Employment Security Commission data released on July 24, unemployment rates in Watauga increased two-tenths of a percent from May to June.

Watauga’s unemployed workers received $8,203,059 in benefits in the last fiscal year, part of $3 billion in unemployment claims paid across the state last year.

Other regional unemployment rates for June in the seven-county High Country Local Area are: Alleghany – 11.8 percent (down 0.6 percent); Ashe – 10.8 percent (down 1.6 percent); Avery – 8.9 percent (down 0.5 percent); Mitchell – 12.6 percent (down 0.3 percent); Wilkes – 13.2 percent (up 0.2 percent); and Yancey – 12 percent (down 0.1 percent).

The overall unemployment rate for the High Country Local Area was 11 percent in June. For the first time in six months, the High Country posted an unemployment rate lower than the statewide rate of 11.2 percent.

The lowest county unemployment rate in North Carolina in June was 6.2 percent in Currituck and Hyde counties and the highest was 17.2 percent in Scotland County. Over the month, the unemployment rate increased in 56 counties, decreased in 32 and was unchanged in 12.

People in the seven High County counties received a total of $66,224,811 in unemployment benefits in the 2008-09 fiscal year, from July 2008 through June 2009.

The payment totals include all programs: regular unemployment insurance, emergency unemployment compensation tier I, emergency unemployment compensation tier II, extended benefits and federal additional compensation.

High Country Workforce Director Carole Coates said the numbers suggest the recession is leveling off, and federal programs for worker training are available.

“Our JobLink Career Center partners are working hard to help direct American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to the unemployed residents of our counties,” Coates said.

“Our community colleges have submitted their proposals for accelerated training programs in high-growth, high-demand occupations, and both Mayland Community College and Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s proposals have recently been approved.

“In Watauga County, Caldwell will offer enhanced training programs in Nurse Aide I, Weatherization and Carpentry Green Associate.

Students in these programs will not only be trained in their chosen field, but will also receive in-depth career counseling, job shadowing, employability skills training and a Career Readiness Certificate. Mayland will offer training in carpentry, masonry, electrical installation, HVAC, welding, office/clerical support, phlebotomy and nursing assistant.

“The first classes in these programs will begin in August, and we expect the proposal from Wilkes Community College to be approved shortly,” Coates continued. “Workforce Investment Act funds, augmented by the Recovery Act, will pay for this community college training and help put our High Country residents back to work.”

For more information about training opportunities, contact the JobLink Career Center in Watauga County at (828) 265-5385.