Dec. 2. For the week of Nov. 21, new unemployment claims in North Carolina were 35.95 percent lower than in the previous week, according to WalletHub’s updated rankings for the States Where Unemployment Claims Are Decreasing the Most.

But new data released yesterday by the NC Dept. of Commerce is not as rosy.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 99 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in October. Fifty-one counties had rates that were either at or below the state’s 3.9 percent not seasonally adjusted rate, which increased 0.6 of a percentage point from the September revised unemployment rate.

Unemployment rates increased in all of North Carolina’s 15 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, including Charlotte.

Mixed bag

When compared to the same month last year, NC Commerce said not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in 61 counties, increased in 30 counties, and remained unchanged in nine. Twelve of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year, one increased, and two remained unchanged.

According to the NC Commerce Dept, the number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in October by 2,629 to 4,947,826, while those unemployed increased by 32,875 to 202,689. Since October 2021, the number of workers employed statewide increased 135,671, while those unemployed decreased 6,888.

For an awesome interactive chart, click here.

Key stats

—Weekly unemployment claims in North Carolina decreased by 35.95% compared to the previous week. This was the ninth biggest decrease in the US.

—Weekly unemployment claims in North Carolina were 71.50% lower than in the same week last year. This was the second biggest decrease in the US.

—Weekly unemployment claims in North Carolina were 33.81% lower than in the same week pre-pandemic (2019). This was the 19th biggest decrease in the US.

—Unemployment Insurance Initial Claims per 100,000 People in Labor Force in North Carolina: 45

National notes

—Every state had unemployment claims last week that were lower than in the previous week except for Massachusetts, Idaho, Ohio, Vermont, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Connecticut.

—Surprisingly, 24 states (including Colorado, Ohio and South Carolina) had unemployment claims last week that were worse than the same week last year.

—Every state had unemployment claims last week that were lower than in the same week pre-pandemic (2019) except for Illinois, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Connecticut, Indiana, Ohio and Idaho.