Area unemployment rates are starting to creep downward, but Dare County still has the highest rate, 14.6 percent, in the northeast region and one of the highest in the state.
North Carolina's jobless rate is 10.8 percent, the fifth-highest in the nation.
Although the March county-by-county figures released by the state Friday show a significant improvement in Dare from February's 17.1 percent unemployment, job opportunities continue to be sparse.
"Normally I have 200 to 300 available this time of year," said Kenneth Kee, manager of the state Job Link in Dare County. "Right now I have 74, and about seven or eight of them are for the new Food Lion that's opening up."
Kee said that real estate offices on the Outer Banks have been consolidating, and just about every rental company has laid off one or two agents. Maintenance service workers have lost their jobs because owners are doing the work themselves to save money. Of the 15 or so boat builders in Wanchese open in September, he said, only about five are still in business.
Employers, he said, are looking for nurses, cottage inspectors and just a few sales associates and restaurant servers. The days when electricians, carpenters and plumbers were in demand are over.
A job fair being held this week for Food Lion, which needs to hire about 100 workers, Kee said, is expected to attract up to 1,000 job seekers.
But Kee isn't seeing all doom and gloom. "I honestly believe, myself, we're going to have an OK summer," he said. "I am sort of torn about where we're going with it. I hear good stories and I hear horror stories."
The state 's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 10.8 percent is up from last month's 10.7 percent, but the rate that is not seasonally adjusted has gone down to 10.9 percent from 11.2 percent, said Pam Davenport, social research manager for the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina.
The seasonally adjusted rates smooth out the times and trends, providing a better figure to use for comparison over time, Davenport said. The data for the counties is not seasonally adjusted.
Of the state's 100 counties, Dare ranks 87; Scotland County is the highest with 16.6 percent. Currituck County, with 8.5 percent, ranks nine, and Orange County is the lowest, with 6.1 percent.
Considering that Dare's unemployment was 7.7 percent in March 2008, Kee said, it has been a rough year filled with heart-rending stories. "I see tears every day," he said. "I need a psychiatry degree."
Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com
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Dare Unemployment
Don't be fooled by the reduction in unemployment benefits, many have exhausted their benefits while others are now "employed" BUT only as seasonal, or part-time workers. Most of the people I know who have found work no longer have benefits such as HEALTH INSURANCE or paid time off (whether for sick, vacation, funerals or jury duty)or any retirement of any sort. I will be curious to see though how many businesses will employ FOREIGN STUDENTS this summer while there are so many DARE COUNTY RESIDENTS seeking employment. (I DO NOT BLAME THE FOREIGNERS!! THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF). Sometimes we need to stop blaming the WORKERS and take a hard look at the employers who have GREEDILY hired CHEAP labor instead of bolstering the local residents and economy!!! The PLANTATION MENTALITY STILL EXISTS!!!
unemployment in Dare county
Not one word had been mentioned that the unemployment rate in Dare County is affected by beach closures as well as the economy. The one sided policies in the beach closure issues pushed on the people HAVE an adverse effect as well.
These folks are dropping off unemployment rolls
This is going to give a false read on unemployment statistics. Alot of people will be running out of benefits, thus will no longer be counted in unemployment statistics.