Davidson County’s unemployment rate jumped to 13.4 percent in December, according to the latest statistics released by the North Carolina Employment Security Commission on Friday.
Unemployment climbed .4 percent from November as Davidson was one of 86 counties across the state which saw a rise in the rate. Total employment decreased by 48,924 workers in December, with a reported 2,628 coming from Davidson County.
“The recession continues to affect North Carolina’s economy,” ESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. said. “Virtually every major job sector has been impacted. The ECS continues to work hard in providing many services to the citizens of North Carolina. Whether it be job search assistance or the issuing of unemployment benefits to those who are eligible, the ESC remains committed to the citizens of our state.”
Total unemployment in the state neared half a million workers in December, and the ESC paid out more than $213 million in benefits. There are 10,197 people actively seeking employment in Davidson County, where the labor force is 76,099. The unemployment rate also climbed in Guilford, Rowan and Forsyth county. Orange County reported the state’s lowest unemployment rate in December at 6.2 percent with Graham County showing the highest at 17.6 percent.
“There haven’t been big layoffs that I’m aware of that would account for the increase,” said Alan Wagner, employment consultant at the Lexington ESC office. “It’s speculation on my part, but [the increase] was probably due to the holiday season. We have seen 2,628 attached claims in December. That usually happens around the holidays when employers put their workers on short-time.”
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.
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