Charlotte-area unemployment down to 10.7 percent

Unemployment in the Charlotte area fell to 10.7 percent in February from 11.2 percent in January, while Mecklenburg County’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 10.2 percent, the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina said today.

Those rates are still higher than the state’s unadjusted rate of 10.1 percent for February.

In the Charlotte area –Charlotte, Gastonia and Rock Hill, S.C. — there were 755,519 people employed in February and 90,918 unemployed. The Charlotte-area’s unemployment rate was the third-highest among the state’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas in February.

Unemployment rates decreased in 93 of the state’s 100 counties in February. Rates increased in one county and remained the same in six. Rates declined in 93 counties when compared to the same month last year.

Employment activity in the Charlotte area from January to February:

• mining, logging and construction: up 400 jobs, or 1.1 percent;

• manufacturing: down 100 jobs, or 0.2 percent;

• trade, transportation and utilities: down 1,600 jobs, or 1 percent;

• information: up 100 jobs; or 0.5 percent;

• financial activities: up 400 jobs, or 0.6 percent;

• professional and business services: up 800 jobs, or 0.6 percent;

• education and health services: up 100 jobs or 0.1 percent;

• leisure and hospitality: up 1,300 jobs, or 1.6 percent;

• other services: up 200 jobs, or 0.7 percent; and

• government: 1,100 jobs, or 0.9 percent.