Dare unemployment down but still sixth in state

Dare County’s unemployment rate was down slightly in February but was still the sixth highest in the state, the North Carolina Employment Security Commission reports.

In figures released Wednesday, the jobless rate in the county was 17.4 percent compared to 17.6 percent in January.

The employment security commission report showed that the rate increased in 58 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in February, decreased in 19 and remained the same in 23.

The statewide rate in February was 11.8 percent.

Many workers in Dare County are part time or contractors and there are no specific numbers to account for them. Those who are self-employed and out of work do not qualify for unemployment benefits, so they are not included in the numbers.

Even in good economic times, the Dare County rate can reach double figures during the winter because of the seasonal economy.

Of the 100 counties in the state Orange County near Durham had the state’s lowest February rate at 6.9 percent, while Graham in the western mountains had the highest at 19.4 percent.

Among the metropolitan statistical areas, the Durham-Chapel Hill region, with a strong education and medical economy, had the lowest unemployment rate at 8.4 percent followed closely by Jacksonville, which has a heavy military presence.