The North Carolina unemployment numbers are out for December 2012, and there’s good news and bad news.
The bad news is 6,997 more people are unemployed, moving the statewide rate from 9.1 percent to 9.2 percent.
The good news is more people are at work than a year ago — the unemployment rate fell from 10.4 percent in December 2011, with 121,487 people gaining work.
Still, the seasonally-adjusted rate is higher than the 7.8 percent national average. And for people who have recently lost their jobs, or have been out of work for a while, the right now means more than year-long trend.
Ellen Bell, N.C. Division of Workforce Solutions assistant manager for Lenoir and Greene counties, said she hasn’t seen anything locally that would account for the increase.
“No, nothing significant that I could tell you that would justify that,” Bell said. “It seems like people are still losing jobs, people are still having some layoffs, or a couple of places are closing. And (unemployment benefit) extensions go on.”
The financial activities sector took the biggest hit in December, losing 2,000 jobs, and the number of people in leisure and hospitality services decreased 1,300. Financial activities includes finance and insurance, real estate and rental and leasing. Leisure and hospitality covers arts, entertainment and recreation, and accommodation and food services.
The industries showing gains were education and health services at 5,900 jobs and professional services with 5,000 jobs. Education and heath services is comprised of educational services and health care and social assistance. Professional services includes professional, scientific and technical services, management of companies and enterprises, and “administrative and support and waste management and remediation services.”
Industry categories are organized under the North American Industry Classification System.
The N.C. Division of Labor and Economic Analysis will release county-specific unemployment data on Jan. 30.
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at WolfeReports.
Breakout Box
Recent statewide unemployment rates
- August 2012: 9.7 percent
- September 2012: 9.6 percent
- October 2012: 9.3 percent
- November 2012: 9.1 percent
- December 2012: 9.2 percent
N.C. Division of Labor and Economic Analysis