Area jobless rate rose to 3.4% in May after falling in April

The six-county area’s unemployment rate ticked up from 3.2% in April to 3.4% in May, thanks to an increase of 175 jobless claims.

N.C. Department of Commerce data released last week show the unemployment rates in Pasquotank, Currituck, Chowan, Perquimans, Gates and Camden all edged upward as the total number of jobless claims in the area rose from 1,694 in April to 1,869 in May.

The same commerce data showed workforce participation in the area climbing for the second straight month, rising from 53,314 in April to 53,714 in May. Pasquotank, which added 141 workers, and Perquimans, which added 75, accounted for more than half of the 400-worker increase.

Despite May’s increase, labor force participation was still shy of the 54,120 mark set in March.

The increases in jobless claims and labor participation mirrored statewide trends. According to the commerce department, the number of jobless claims statewide rose in May by 12,332 to 185,896 while the labor force grew by 17,523 to 5,100,685. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 3.5%, up from April’s 3.3%.

The commerce department said unemployment rates increased in 95 of the state’s 100 counties, decreased in four and remained unchanged in one. That’s after all 100 counties saw their rates decline in April.

Pasquotank, which has the area’s largest workforce, had the most workers file for unemployment in May: 680. That’s 58 more than in April. While the county’s labor participation rose by 141 to 17,308, the county unemployment rate rose from 3.6% to 3.9%, 68th best in the state. The county’s rate was 67th best in April.

Currituck had the area’s second-largest number of jobless claims in May, 428. That’s 27 more than in April but still fewer than March’s 462. Currituck’s labor participation rose by 32 workers to over 15,000, giving the county a 2.8% unemployment rate, a .1% increase from April. That was still good enough for a first-place tie with Buncombe for the state’s best rate.

Chowan, with the area’s third-largest workforce, saw its labor force rise by 55 workers to climb back over 6,000 after falling below that figure in April. The county’s jobless claims rose by 23 to 215, raising its unemployment rate to 3.6%, almost a half-a-percent more than in April. The county fell from having the 43rd best rate in April to 58th best in May.

Perquimans had 218 workers file for unemployment in May, which is 22 more than in April. Even though its labor force rose by 75 workers, the county’s unemployment rate rose from 3.8% to 4.2%, the 81st best in the state. Perquimans’ rate was 78th best in April.

In Gates, 172 workers filed for jobless benefits, 23 more than in April. Even though the county’s labor force rose by 38 to 5,299, its jobless rate rose from 2.8% to 3.2%. Gates had the state’s 30th best rate in May after having the 11th best in April.

Camden, with the area’s fewest workers, also had the fewest jobless claims: 156, which was 22 more than in April. With 59 more workers in its labor force, Camden’s jobless rate still rose from 2.8% to 3.2%. That dropped the county from having the ninth-best rate to 24th best.

Compared to May 2023, unemployment rates were down in Currituck and Gates, unchanged in Chowan, up slightly in Pasquotank and Camden and up .4% in Perquimans.

According to the commerce department, the number of North Carolina counties with jobless rates of 5% or lower went down from 97 to 95 in May. Scotland County had the highest rate with 6% while Buncombe and Currituck each had the lowest, 2.8%.

Unemployment increased in all 15 of the state’s metropolitan areas. Rocky Mount continued to have the highest rate among MAs, 4.7%, while Asheville again had the lowest, 3.5%.

The unemployment rate in the Elizabeth City Micropolitan Area, which includes Pasquotank, Camden and Perquimans counties, rose to 3.8% in May after being 3.5% in April. The city MA saw 1,054 persons file for unemployment in a workforce of 27,383. That’s 102 more unemployment claims in a labor force of 275 more workers. The Elizabeth City MA’s unemployment rate was up slightly from May 2023.