Tagged: North Carolina Unemployment

North Carolina's unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest level in four years, and South Carolina's unemployment rate has declined to the lowest point in five years. That's according to figures released Friday for the month of April.

North Carolina's unemployment rate declined slightly in February to 9.4 percent. But the report released Thursday shows that unemployment is no longer steadily declining year to year.

Back in February 2010, the unemployment rate peaked in the state at 11.3 percent.

Then North Carolina started slowly but steadily recovering from the recession. In February 2011, the rate was 10.3 percent. A year later, 9.5 percent. And you could see those kind of year-over-year improvements no matter what month you looked at - at least, until this year.

Cheaters who manage to keep collecting unemployment once they've found work will face stiffer penalties and the strong possibility of losing their tax refund in 2013.  The North Carolina Division of Employment Security is trying to recover nearly $50 million in fraudulent payments.

North Carolina's been paying a record amount of unemployment during this recession, so it stands to reason that fraud has increased, too.  When you get a job, you're supposed to report that to the unemployment office so they stop sending you checks.

North Carolina’s unemployment rate got worse in August, while South Carolina’s remained steady but well above the national average.

If you’re looking for bright spots in the North Carolina unemployment report, well, good luck.

"This is undoubtedly a disappointing jobs report," Allan Freyer said. He's an analyst with the N.C. Budget and Tax Center. "We see a weakening private sector and long-term decay in public sector employment as well."