Charlotte-area jobless rate falls to 5.2 percent in September

As was the case state and nationwide, the unemployment rate in the Charlotte region declined in September from a month before. Unemployment rates fell in every county in North Carolina.

Charlotte’s jobless rate fell to 5.2 percent in September from an August rate of 5.7 percent, which was a bit lower than originally reported, according to data released Wednesday from the N.C. Commerce Department.

The overall employment level in the Charlotte metro area, which includes Concord and Gastonia, shrank by 2,400 in September. The sector with the biggest decline was leisure and hospitality, which fell by 5,200, followed by trade, transportation and utilities, which fell by 2,600.

The sector with the biggest gain was government, which grew by 6,000, followed by education and health services, which grew by 1,100.

Economists have warned, however, against reading too far into one month’s worth of data, especially for such a small area. Over the last 12 months, Charlotte’s net employment level has risen by 34,300. The area’s unemployment rate one year ago was 5.7 percent.

The Commerce Department reported earlier this month that the North Carolina unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in September, down slightly from 5.9 percent in August. The national jobless rate was 5.1 percent in September, the U.S. Labor Department reported earlier this month.

Across North Carolina, unemployment rates fell in all 100 counties. In Mecklenburg County, joblessness fell to 5.1 percent in September from 5.7 percent in August. Here are the September rates of some nearby counties:

▪ Cabarrus County’s rate fell to 4.9 percent from 5.4 percent.

▪ Gaston County’s rate fell to 5.5 percent from 6.1 percent.

▪ Iredell County’s rate fell to 5.1 percent from 5.7 percent.

▪ Lincoln County’s rate fell to 5.1 percent from 5.7 percent.

▪ Union County’s rate fell to 4.5 percent from 5.2 percent.

This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 11:49 AM with the headline "Charlotte-area jobless rate falls to 5.2 percent in September."