I heard some numbers on the local news that sorta amazed me so I did a little more digging. My conclusion is that the "low unemployment" is in the large cities, not in the outlying areas of the economic region.
Take Metro Charlotte, NC for example:
(Source: NC Employment Security Commission Website)
ncesc.com
NC Economic Development Regions and their counties
Carolinas Partnership EDR - Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union
Individual Rates:
Mecklenburg (Charlotte) 2.5%
Rowan 9.5% (Freightliner Plant layoffs)
Stanly 4.4%
Union 2.3% (A lot of Commuters to Charlotte)
Lincoln 5.2%
Iredell 5.2%
Gaston 8.1% (Mill layoffs)
Cleveland 6.7%
Catawba 2.4% (Furniture Industry Booming, for Now!)
Cabarrus 3.0% (A lot of Commuters to Charlotte)
Anson 6.6%
Alexander 3.4%
The state quotes the region to be at 4%, which is skewed by the population center of Mecklenburg. Taking each county as equal weight the average comes out to be 5%. Maybe Greenspan needs to get out of the cities every once in a while and look around?
Anybody see similar situations in your part of the country? I always find it amazing that the government works so actively to keep a certain portion of the population jobless and pennyless.
Interest rates are too high. |
