Area job picture mostly unchanged in September

Unemployment in the Albemarle area fell slightly in September, according to figures released by the NC Employment Security Commission.

The number of workers in the five-county region who applied for unemployment benefits dropped by 52. In August, 3,980 workers applied for unemployment benefits. In September, that number had fallen to 3,928.

Meanwhile, the rate of unemployment in area counties either remained unchanged or fell slightly.

Both Pasquotank and Camden counties reported no change in their jobless rates. In August and September, Pasquotank reported a jobless rate of 9.1 percent. Camden reported a 7.1 percent rate in both months.

Chowan County continued to have the area’s highest unemployment rate with 11.9 percent. That was down slightly from August, however, when the rate was 12 percent.

Perquimans County’s unemployment rate also fell slightly — .4 percent. In August, the county reported a rate of 10.7 percent. In September, the rate was 10.3 percent.

Currituck County continued to have the state’s lowest unemployment rate with 5 percent. That was down slightly from August when it was 5.1 percent.

Statewide, the number of workers seeking unemployment benefits in September declined from 485,733 to 472,429. The statewide jobless rate fell from 10.7 in August to 10.4 percent in September.