N.C. Department of Commerce local area unemployment statistics for January, released Friday, show a very favorable longterm trend.
 
Although unemployment rates for January 2014 were higher than those for December 2013 in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties, the rates in those counties were markedly lower than they were in January 2013.

The region's overall unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in January. That's up from 7.1 percent in December, but down from 11.1 percent posted in January 2013.
 
Although January’s unemployment rate in Brunswick County was up slightly from that of December (increasing to 8.7 from 8.2 percent), the January 2014 rate of 8.7 percent was significantly lower than the 12.2 percent unemployment rate in January 2013.
 
A similar picture emerged for New Hanover County. This January’s unemployment rate was 7.1 percent, an increase from 6.3 percent posted in December, but far lower than the January 2013 rate of 10.4 percent.
 
Pender County had the smallest change from December 2013 to January 2013. The unemployment rate moved up only a tenth of one percentage point, from 8 in December to 8.1 percent in January. The year-over-year decline was also substantial, dropping from 11.5 percent unemployment in January 2013.
 
Statewide, the January 2014 unemployment rate was 7 percent, up from December’s 6.6 percent but lower than January 2013, when unemployment was at 9.5 percent.
 
The state’s metropolitan statistical area with the lowest rate of unemployment in January was Durham-Chapel Hill, with 5.3 percent. Asheville MSA was close behind, with a rate of 5.4 percent. Raleigh-Cary had 5.5 percent.
 
The highest metropolitan area unemployment rate in the state was found in the Rocky Mount MSA, where unemployment, at 10.3 percent, was nearly double that of Durham-Chapel Hill.