NC unemployment rates increased in 97 of 100 counties, Graham County 18.5 percent, Guilford 9.5, Mecklenburg 9.3, Labor force participation rate down

NC unemployment rates increased in 97 of 100 counties, Graham County 18.5 percent, Guilford 9.5, Mecklenburg 9.3, Labor force participation rate down

“The United States economy has lost more jobs than it has added since the recovery began over a year ago.”…NY Times Sept. 20, 2010.

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“We tried our plan—and it worked. That’s the difference. That’s the choice in this election. That’s why I’m running for a second term.”…Barack Obama

NC unemployment rates increased in 97 of 100 counties.

That is scary enough.

That is only part of the picture.

Since the Democrats took control of congress in 2007, the labor force participation rate in NC has dropped 3.6 percent. Since Obama took the White House it has dropped 1.8 percent. So as bad as these unemployment rates appear, they are actually much higher.

From the NC Department of Commerce January 30, 2013.

“Unemployment rates increased in 97 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in December, decreased in one, and were unchanged in two. Thirteen of the State’s metro areas also experienced rate increases while one metro decreased. The December (not seasonally adjusted) statewide rate was 9.5 percent.

Graham County had the highest unemployment rate at 18.5 percent, while Orange County had the lowest at 5.9 percent. Among the Metro areas, Rocky Mount at 12.5 percent experienced the highest rate, and Durham-Chapel
Hill at 7.2 percent had the lowest.”

“North Carolina’s statewide unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 9.5 percent in December. This was a 0.5 of a percentage-point increase from November’s revised rate of 9.0 percent, and a 0.7 percentage-point decrease over the year.”

“Unemployment rates increased in 13 of the state’s 14 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The Rocky Mount MSA had the highest unemployment rate in December at 12.5 percent. Durham/Chapel Hill reported the month’s lowest unemployment rate at 7.2 percent, which increased 0.3 of a percentage point from the previous month. Asheville and Raleigh/Cary followed at 7.5 percent.”

http://www.ncesc1.com/pmi/rates/PressReleases/County/NR_December2012_CntyRates_M.pdf