The Wilmington area’s unemployment rate fell in May compared to the same month last year, according to state figures released Wednesday.

The numbers also showed negligible increases over the previous month for area counties.
 
The Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area, made up of New Hanover and Pender counties, saw an unemployment rate of 4 percent in May, compared to 4.3 percent in May 2016 and 3.9 percent in April, stated an N.C. Commerce Department report.
 
Across the state, the rates, which are not seasonally adjusted, increased in 67 counties between April and May, decreasing in 13 counties and remaining the same in 20. Compared to May 2016, rates dropped in 97 of the state's 100 counties.
 
New Hanover County had the lowest jobless rate in May in the Cape Fear region at 3.9 percent, compared to 4.2 percent a year earlier and 3.8 percent in April.
 
May's jobless rate in Brunswick County remained the same as April's at 5 percent, compared to 5.5 percent in May 2016. Pender County’s rate was 4.4 percent, down from 4.7 percent a year before, and up from 4.2 percent in April.
 
The state’s unemployment rate for May was 4.3 percent, compared to 4.7 percent last May, the commerce department reported.