JULY 30, 2009 ISSUE
Unemployment Rates Decrease in Five High Country Counties in June
The month-to-month county unemployment rates in most High Country counties fluctuated only in tenths of one percent from May to June—rather than in whole percentage points—and that fact, along with decreases in unemployment in five of the seven counties may indicate that the freefall in local job loss may be leveling off.
“In light of the significant unemployment rates that we’ve seen since the beginning of the year in our seven counties, one month of encouraging data is not enough to draw any definitive conclusions, but the June data is a hopeful sign that the worst may be behind us,” said High Country Workforce Development Director Carole Coates. “However, five of our seven counties still have unemployment rates in the double digits, so the road to recovery stretches before us and we still have a long way to go.”
According to North Carolina Employment Security Commission data released on July 24, unemployment rates in only two counties—Watauga and Wilkes—increased May over June, and the increase in both counties was 0.2 percent.
Here are the June unemployment rates for each county and the percentage differences from the May unemployment rates:
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)
Watauga—8.1 percent (up 0.2 percent)
Wilkes—13.2 percent (up 0.2 percent)
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.
For comparison purposes, the lowest county unemployment rate in North Carolina in June was 6.2 percent (Currituck and Hyde counties) and the highest was 17.2 percent (Scotland County). Over the month, the unemployment rate increased in 56 counties, decreased in 32 and was unchanged in 12.
“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.
High Country UI Benefits Exceed $66M in One Year
According to data provided by the North Carolina Employment Security Commission, residents of the seven High County counties received a total of $66,224,811 in unemployment benefits in the 2008-09 fiscal year—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.
Here’s the breakdown by county:
Alleghany: $3,520,658
Ashe: $11,030,331
Avery: $4,873,407
Mitchell: $6,576,178
Watauga: $8,203,059
Wilkes: $25,791,771
Yancey: $6,229,407
Statewide, in fiscal year 2008-09, residents received more than $3 billion in unemployment benefits.
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