news-record.com

The job picture in November proved to be a better than previous months in 2011, according to new data released on Wednesday.

November seemed to be a month of improvement for nearly three-quarters of the state's counties. The Department of Employment Security reported that unemployment rates decreased in 74 counties, increased in 20 and remained the same in six.

In High Point, unemployment inched down from 10.5 percent in October to 10.1 percent.

In the counties that encompass the greater High Point area, jobless rates were down all around. Although Davidson County is the only Triad county that was still hovering above 10 percent at 10.3, it has also seen the biggest year-over-year decrease from 11.5 percent in November 2010.

In Guilford County, unemployment decreased from 10.1 percent in October to 9.8 percent in November. Randolph reports a decrease to 9.4 percent and Forsyth decreased to 8.8 percent.

"Unemployment rates continued to drop across North Carolina in November," said N.C. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll. "Over the year, rates have decreased in 71 counties. We remain focused on assisting our customers at our DES offices and JobLink Career Centers statewide."

DES also reported that 39 counties were at or above the statewide unemployment rate of 9.5 percent.

In October, DES reported that no counties had a rate of 5 percent or less.

The same holds true for the month of November, which can assure that although rates are, overall, on a steady decrease, the economy is still recovering from the Great Recession.

Orange County had the state's lowest unemployment rate in November, at 5.8 percent. Meanwhile, Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate, at 16.6 percent. Rates also decreased in all 14 of the state's Metropolitan Statistical Areas.