Unemployment figures continue to be near record lows across the area. The North Carolina Department of Labor released unemployment rates for each of North Carolina’s 100 counties for the month of August earlier this week. Alexander County was reported at 3.2 percent for the month of August, the same as the month of July. Iredell County was listed at 3.5 percent compared to 3.7 in July. Catawba County was at 3.6 down from 3.7 in July. Wilkes was at 3.7 down from 3.9 and Caldwell County reported 3.9 percent unemployment down from 4 percent in July.
Statewide unemployment fell from 4.1 percent to 3.9, Scotland County has the highest rate of joblessness in the state at 7.6, Buncombe County has the lowest rate at 3.1 percent.