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N.C. unemployment rate stays at 6.6 percent in July Associated Press
August 15, 2003
RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in July was 6.6 percent, unchanged from June, according to statistics released today by the state's Employment Security Commission.
The rate was 6.8 percent in July 2002.
ESC chairman Harry E. Payne Jr. said the July unemployment rate was affected by high unemployment among youth ages 16 to 19 who were unable to find summer jobs.
One hopeful sign, he said, is growth in the state's employment and labor levels. July employment was 3,907,489, an increase of 35,302 over June, Payne said. The state's seasonally adjusted labor force was 4,185,426 in July, an increase of 37,877 from June.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in July, down from 6.4 percent in June.
Because unemployment rates are calculated using data from the week containing the 12th of the month, the loss of almost 5,000 Pillowtex jobs on July 30 will not be reflected in state or local unemployment rates until August at the earliest, the ESC said.
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