The Employment Security Commission has released County unemployment rates for January. High Country Counties followed the increase in statewide unemployment rates during that period.

North Carolina unemployment increased from 4.7% in December to 5.0% in January. Ashe County Unemployment increased from 5.9% in December to 7.3% in January. Avery County’s unemployment increased from 5.3% to 6.1%. Watauga County’s unemployment increased slightly from 3.5% to 3.8%. Although the state’s employment increased overall during this period, 98 out of 100 of the state’s counties experienced increases in unemployment.