FROM NC JUSTICE CENTER
Unemployment declines in 99 of 100 North Carolina counties
But more than half of the counties in the state continue to experience above-average unemployment
RALEIGH (May 28, 2010) - During April, unemployment rates declined in 99 of the 100 counties in North Carolina. But, an economic analyst noted, more than half of the counties in the state continue to have rates above the state's overall 10 percent rate.
"The new numbers highlight how certain areas of the state have been devastated by the loss of traditional industries," said Alexandra Forter Sirota, a policy analyst with NC Justice Center's Budget & Tax Center. "Long-term unemployment is still an epidemic problem in North Carolina."
Hickory/Lenoir/Morganton and Rocky Mount metro areas had the highest unemployment rates at 13.3 and 13.0 respectively. In the case of Hickory, the loss to manufacturing and construction jobs has driven these high numbers.
Over the month increases in Charlotte/Gastonia/Rock Hill of 6,100 jobs has gone some way to replacing the 7,000 jobs that have been lost in the past year in that metro area.
Both the highs and lows point to the key role that community assets can play in stabilizing economies in tough economic times, said Sirota. Communities that started out at the beginning of the recession with high poverty rates and few employment opportunities have experienced some of the highest unemployment rates and the slowest job creation."
"Ensuring that communities disproportionately impacted by the recession can benefit from policies that promote job creation and support working families is essential to building long-term stability," she said.
The slow nature of the economic recovery has created not just high unemployment rates but record long-term unemployment. In North Carolina, the median length of unemployment was 16.5 weeks in 2009 up from just 7 weeks at the beginning of the recession.
"As workers experience longer spells of unemployment, it is essential that the extension of unemployment insurance benefits is temporarily extended by Congress," said Sirota. "These benefits allow unemployed workers to continue to shop in their local communities providing a necessary boost to the private sector."
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Alexandra Forter Sirota, 919.861.1468, alexandra@ncjustice.org; Jeff Shaw, director of communications, 503.551.3615, jeff@ncjustice.org.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER : To get real-time regular updates from Justice Center staff, you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Get news releases, quick observations and be the first to know when a new report is out. Also see the Twitter list of Justice Center and NC Policy Watch staff.
Read the full article
Unemployment declines in 99 of 100 North Carolina counties
But more than half of the counties in the state continue to experience above-average unemployment
RALEIGH (May 28, 2010) - During April, unemployment rates declined in 99 of the 100 counties in North Carolina. But, an economic analyst noted, more than half of the counties in the state continue to have rates above the state's overall 10 percent rate.
"The new numbers highlight how certain areas of the state have been devastated by the loss of traditional industries," said Alexandra Forter Sirota, a policy analyst with NC Justice Center's Budget & Tax Center. "Long-term unemployment is still an epidemic problem in North Carolina."
Hickory/Lenoir/Morganton and Rocky Mount metro areas had the highest unemployment rates at 13.3 and 13.0 respectively. In the case of Hickory, the loss to manufacturing and construction jobs has driven these high numbers.
Over the month increases in Charlotte/Gastonia/Rock Hill of 6,100 jobs has gone some way to replacing the 7,000 jobs that have been lost in the past year in that metro area.
Both the highs and lows point to the key role that community assets can play in stabilizing economies in tough economic times, said Sirota. Communities that started out at the beginning of the recession with high poverty rates and few employment opportunities have experienced some of the highest unemployment rates and the slowest job creation."
"Ensuring that communities disproportionately impacted by the recession can benefit from policies that promote job creation and support working families is essential to building long-term stability," she said.
The slow nature of the economic recovery has created not just high unemployment rates but record long-term unemployment. In North Carolina, the median length of unemployment was 16.5 weeks in 2009 up from just 7 weeks at the beginning of the recession.
"As workers experience longer spells of unemployment, it is essential that the extension of unemployment insurance benefits is temporarily extended by Congress," said Sirota. "These benefits allow unemployed workers to continue to shop in their local communities providing a necessary boost to the private sector."
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Alexandra Forter Sirota, 919.861.1468, alexandra@ncjustice.org; Jeff Shaw, director of communications, 503.551.3615, jeff@ncjustice.org.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER : To get real-time regular updates from Justice Center staff, you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Get news releases, quick observations and be the first to know when a new report is out. Also see the Twitter list of Justice Center and NC Policy Watch staff.
Read the full article
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The rates are looking good. Only reason the other counties fluctuate is because of hardships & migrating to the metro areas for work. The recession had careers competitive & jobs scarce. Before the recession, we were experiencing the population of small towns to decrease as Raleigh, Charlotte stayed the same & now Fayetteville is getting 30,000+ over the next year. As long as businesses can produce jobs, we can stir up the local economies and try to manage a support system for rural towns. The outsourcing is hurting us, and i fear a bumpy ride until the global market is established by major influences. The US is not the same anymore and I'm not sure the market will fix itself or an invisible hand will slap it into play. Everything is a business & we need more people doing their job so we can find innovation to become effective. Forget the quick bucks, how about an invention to propel us, like a new car, green energy platforms, financing, or atleast something to keep the community together ;) I have HOPE, or should I say I trust in most policies of our President, and believe the US is one of the best country's in the world. But, yeah, I'm spoiled, I want it to fix by Christmas. After the poverty number gets ridiculous, someone is gonna have to hit a switch... someone ...anyone listening ... where the hell are all the clever guys at?
By Elucid Marketing
05/29/2010
"...But more than half of the counties in the state continue to experience above-average unemployment."
Well, since the average here is the state average, then there will always be around half of the counties above that. It's an AVERAGE of the STATE.
By SuckItMcGee
05/31/2010