Unemployment rose in all 100 North Carolina counties in November, according to data released Tuesday by the North Carolina Employment Security Commission.
The rate Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) rose to 7.7 percent, up 0.8 points from a month earlier. That's the highest figure in at least 18 years and just slightly below the state's 7.9 percent rate.
All counties in the Charlotte region were above the national unemployment rate of 6.7 percent. Across the state, 17 counties had unemployment rates in the double digits.
“Manufacturing, retail trade and services sectors have been hit hard during this national and worldwide economic slump,” ESC Chairman Harry Payne Jr. said in a statement. “Retail trade was down because many employers did not take on more workers during the holiday season as they have in the past. Also, textile and furniture manufacturing continue to struggle in the global economy.”
New national numbers for December are to be released Friday.