North Carolina’s unemployment rate edged downward in September. But some still call the latest jobless report “mixed.”
The state’s jobless rate sits at 6.7 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the month before.
Mike Walden is an Economist at NC State. Each month two separate surveys are taken – a Household survey and a Business Payroll survey. Walden follows the payroll survey, with a larger sample size.
“So my view is that the job market in North Carolina in September was very robust," said Walden.
North Carolina added 16,700 jobs over the month, 109,000 jobs since this time last year.
John Quinterno is Principal at South by North Strategiesin Chapel Hill.
“Some people would look at it as a positive," said Quinterno. "But if you think about it, it’s taken almost six and three-quarters years to get back to the same payroll employment level we had in North Carolina as when the recession started.”
The state Commerce Department reports Professional and Business Services added the largest number of jobs over the year.