The unemployment rate in Iredell County increased to 3.7 percent in October, up from 3 percent in September. According to the N.C. Department of Commerce, Iredell has a labor force of 94,575 people. In October, a total of 3,470 county residents were classified as unemployed.
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 99 of North Carolina’s counties in October and decreased in one. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.5 percent while Orange County had the lowest at 3.1 percent.
All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 6.2 percent while Asheville, Durham-Chapel Hill, and Raleigh each had the lowest at 3.3 percent. The October not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.9 percent.