RALEIGH — Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina's counties in September. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.2 percent while Buncombe County had the lowest at 4.0 percent. All fifteen of the state's metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the Metro areas, Rocky Mount at 8.0 percent experienced the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 4.3 percent. The September not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 5.4 percent.
| Counties With Rates 5% or Below | Counties With Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties With Rates 10% or Above | |
| September | 21 | 77 | 2 |
| August (Revised) | 4 | 92 | 4 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in 77 counties, increased in 14, and remained unchanged in nine. Ten metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year while two increased and three remained unchanged.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in September by 37,157 to 4,496,725 while those unemployed decreased 31,542 to 257,087. Since September 2014, the number of workers employed statewide increased 116,893, while those unemployed decreased 4,647.
It is important to note that employment estimates are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates. The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, November 20, 2015 when the state unemployment rate for October 2015 will be released.
This information may be accessed on the Commerce website at http://www.nccommerce.com/lead