Special to Iredell Free News

RALEIGH — The unemployment rate in Iredell County increased to 8.7 percent in July, up from 7.7 percent in June.

According to the N.C. Department of Commerce, the county has a labor force of 88,510 people. Some 7,660 were unemployed in July.

Across the state, unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 99 of North Carolina’s counties in July and remained unchanged in one. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 14.1 percent, while Camden had the lowest at 6.1 percent.

All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced increases. Among the metro areas, Fayetteville had the highest rate at 11.6 percent and New Bern had the lowest at 7.5 percent. The July not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 8.9 percent.

When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates increased in all 100 counties. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases.

In Iredell County, the unemployment rate in July of 2019 was 3.9 percent.

The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in July by 83,070 to 4,524,153, while those unemployed increased by 69,515 to 441,279.

Since July 2019, the number of workers employed statewide decreased 382,189, while those unemployed increased 221,740.