Unemployment resumes climb in N.C. counties

By Connie Sage

Correspondent

The unemployment rate shot back up in most northeast North Carolina counties last month, after dipping in April.

Only Dare, Hyde and Currituck continued to show decreasing joblessness, according to the state Employment Security Commission.

The statewide unemployment rate hit a record 11.1 percent in May.

Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties had higher jobless rates in May than in April, according to statistics released on Friday.

Seasonal jobs related to tourism helped ease the number of those looking for work on the Outer Banks.

The percentage of those without work in Dare County, home of the Outer Banks, fell slightly to 9 percent, from 9.6 percent in April.

Hyde County's rate dropped the most, from 8.2 to 7.1 percent, while Currituck's unemployment numbers fell from 7 to 6.3 percent.

Currituck County Manager Daniel F. Scanlon II said tourism had "a big piece to play" in more residents' finding jobs.

Some of the dip in unemployment is attributable to more housing starts, he said, "but not enough to make a difference."