Surry Business

Surry County’s unemployment rate rose 0.2 percent in August, the North Carolina Employment Security Commission reported today, and the number of unemployed people increased by 52 from July to 1,956, the highest number since January.

The size of Surry County’s resident labor force dropped slightly, by 50 people, to 34,920. That total is down 0.5 percent from August 2006.

The number of people employed in Surry County in August was about 100 fewer than in July. At 32,964, the total was down a little less than 1 percent from the year prior.

The reports of higher unemployment and fewer jobs was expected. Four textile or apparel manufacturers announced earlier this year that they would discontinue part or all of their operations in Mount Airy, Surry County’s largest city. At the same time, however, employment has grown in services, construction and retail sales.

Statewide unemployment in North Carolina decreased 0.2 percent from July to August and, in the Employment Security Commission’s seasonally adjusted estimate, there were 215,700 people out of work compared to 220,000 in August 2006. Over the same 12-month period, North Carolina’s labor force grew to more than 4.5 million and employment increased by nearly 33,000 jobs, a 0.7 percent improvement. Ninety-eight counties reported lower unemployment rates in August than in July, one (Surry) had greater unemployment and one county’s jobless rate stayed the same.