Area workforce soared by nearly 800 in March; jobless claims fell by 29

Nearly 30 fewer people filed for unemployment benefits in the six-county area in March than did in February, while the number of people either joining or rejoining the area workforce soared by nearly 800.

The result was a slight decrease in the six-county unemployment rate to 3.6%, a tenth of a point better than North Carolina’s average rate in March.

The N.C. Department of Commerce released county unemployment data Wednesday showing a total of 1,953 unemployment claims were filed in Pasquotank, Perquimans, Chowan, Currituck, Camden and Gates counties in March. That’s down from the 1,982 filed in February.

Four of the six counties reported decreases in unemployment, with Currituck reporting largest numerical decrease: 28 workers. Pasquotank and Camden both saw increases, but only by a combined 11 more jobless claims. As a result, both saw their overall unemployment rate remain unchanged.

The most significant change during the month was the surge in labor force participation. Five of the six counties saw increases of 100 or more workers. The only county that didn’t, Gates, still saw its labor force grow by 71.

The increases pushed the six-county labor force over 54,000 for the first time to 54,120.

The area’s labor force growth also mirrored a statewide trend. After the state workforce grew by only 1,476 workers in February, it climbed by 45,082 in March to 5,094,400. The number of persons filing jobless claims, meanwhile, increased by only 1,588 to 195,758, keeping the state’s jobless rate at 3.7%.

The commerce department said unemployment increased in only 22 North Carolina counties in March, decreased in 44 and remained unchanged in 34.

Pasquotank, which has the area’s largest workforce, had the most workers file for unemployment in March: 719. That’s nine more than February. But because the county’s workforce grew by 273 workers — to 17,517 — the county’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1%.

Currituck had the area’s second-largest number of jobless claims in March, 462, which is 28 fewer than in February. With its labor participation growing by 106, Currituck’s jobless rate fell to 3.1%, good enough for fourth lowest in the state.

Chowan, with the area’s third-largest workforce, saw its labor force rise by 127 workers to 6,132 while its number of jobless claims fell by 1 to 226. That was enough to drop the county’s jobless rate to 3.7%, which was 55th lowest in the state.

Perquimans had 216 workers file for unemployment in March, eight fewer than in February. With its labor force rising by 111 workers, the county’s unemployment rate dipped to 4.1%, ranking it 68th lowest, just behind Pasquotank, which had the 67th lowest.

In Gates, 174 workers filed for jobless benefits, three fewer than in February. The county’s labor force rose by 71 to 5,297, lowering its unemployment rate to 3.3%, good enough for 21st lowest.

Camden, with the area’s fewest workers, also had the fewest jobless claims: 156, which was two more than in February. With 101 more workers in its labor force, Camden’s jobless rate remained unchanged for a third straight month at 3.2%, the state’s 6th lowest rate.

Compared to March 2023, the unemployment rate was down in Currituck and Pasquotank, up slightly in Perquimans, and unchanged in Camden, Chowan and Gates.

According to the commerce department, the number of North Carolina counties with jobless rates of 5% or lower remained at 90 in March. Hyde County for the third month in a row had the state’s highest unemployment rate, 7.6%, while Greene County had the lowest, 2.8%.

Unemployment increased in six of the state’s 15 metropolitan areas, decreased in four and remained unchanged in five others. Rocky Mount again had the highest rate among MAs, 5%, while Asheville again had the lowest, 3%.

The unemployment rate in the Elizabeth City Micropolitan Area, which includes Pasquotank, Camden and Perquimans counties, dipped to 3.9% in March. The city MA saw 1,091 persons file for unemployment in a workforce of 27,706. That’s three more unemployment claims in a labor force of 485 more workers. The Elizabeth City MA’s unemployment rate was unchanged from March 2023.