The Sampson County unemployment rate, along with the rate in each of the other 99 counties, saw a decline in March, according to recent statistics released by the North Carolina Employment Security Commission (ESC). Sampson saw a rate drop of 0.7 percent.

“News that all North Carolina counties experienced a decrease in the local unemployment rate is certainly welcome, but we still have challenges ahead of us,” shared ESC chairman Lynn R. Holmes. “With initiatives like Reemployment Services (RES) and the Reemployment Eligibility Assessment (REA), the ESC is focusing even more resources to help our unemployed customers get back into jobs.”

Holmes also singled-out JobsNOW, a program Gov. Bev Perdue has created which can link both workers and employers to resources critical to jump-starting local economies.

Statewide, there were 39 counties that were at, or below, the state’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 10.9 percent. Sampson was one of those 39.

Orange County has the lowest unemployment rate for March with 6.4 percent while Graham County had the highest rate at 17.2 percent.

Sampson is still holding the top spot in the surrounding counties with its 9 percent unemployment rate. Cumberland, Duplin and Wayne counties each tie, taking the second spot with 9.2 percent rates. With a rate of 10.2 percent, Johnston took the next position, followed by Pender at 11.1 percent and Harnett with 11.2 percent. Bladen County had the highest rate of Sampson’s bordering counties with a 12.2 percent unemployment rate, down from February’s 13.1 percent rate.

Overall, Sampson came in at number 11, behind 10 counties in the state with a lower rate. Following Orange County’s low rate in the state were Gates County at 7.5 percent and Chatham County at 7.6 percent. The other counties leading Sampson were Onslow and Durham counties at 8 percent, Currituck County with 8.4 percent, and Camden and Hoke County, each at 8.5 percent. Wake County came in with a rate of 8.6 percent followed by Watauga with 8.7 percent and Buncombe County at 8.9 percent to round out the list.

According to the report from the N.C. ESC, Sampson had 2,843 unemployed citizens in March. Local ESC director Peggy H. Davis and her office shared that although the rate in the county had declined, they were still seeing a number of customers coming into their office. She also encouraged anyone in need of their services to call or come by their office as they are attempting to service as many people as they possibly can.

To contact Billy Todd, call 910-592-8137 ext. 117 or e-mail siobits@heartlandpublications.com..