NC Works: Unemployment Rate Continues to Decline | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: This post, by Bob Luebke, was originally published in Civitas's online edition.

    For those of you who think there is never any good news; listen up.

    North Carolina's economy continues to show strength. Last week the Department of Commerce reported the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June was 4.2 percent. North Carolina's June unemployment figure represents a decline of 0.1 percent from the previous month and 0.2 of a percentage point from the previous year. June represents the third consecutive month that unemployment has declined in North Carolina. The similar unemployment rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

    New jobs have helped to drive down the unemployment rate. Since May of 2018, total nonfarm industry employment in North Carolina has added 13,200 new jobs and 103,400 new jobs since June 2017. Of those new jobs since May, 11,300 jobs are in the private sector. Likewise, 98,200 of the 103,400 new jobs creates in the past year are in the private sector.

    There you have it. Smile and be thankful. Wise fiscal and tax policies have helped the NC and US economy to grow. Now let's stay the course.