Unemployment rises sharply in coastal N.C.

By Jeff Hampton
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 5, 2010

Unemployment rates rose sharply in November in Currituck and Dare counties, according to latest figures from the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina.

But while the winter months usually mean fewer jobs in coastal counties, the rates are much higher than in the past. In Currituck County, the unemployment rate rose to 7.0 percent in November from 5.9 percent in October. In Dare County, the rate rose to 11.0 percent from 8.6 in October.

Businesses typically close or cut back for the winter as the Outer Bank tourism season ends , said Larry Parker, spokesman for the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina. But in this economy, unemployment was worse this summer than it was in the winter a few years ago.

In December 2006, Currituck had an off season unemployment rate of 4.4 percent, lower than the July 2009 rate of 5.5 percent at the height of the tourist season. In July 2006, the Currituck unemployment rate was only 2.4 percent. Camden County rates rose to 7.9 percent in November from 7.5 in October. Pasquotank rose to 9.5 from 9.5. The state’s November rate went up to 10.7 percent in November from 10.6 in October.

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oh boy

Submitted by stopher on Fri, 01/22/2010 at 2:15 pm.

how anybody could work down here for 8-12$ an hr. is beyond me everybody should bail out and let the million dollar defunct owners run their own show the they cash you out for o/t and the employees think its great but if the cash was taxed and in your check you WILL be paid more through your unemployment. see now you have learned something else i challenge anyone who differs!!