Department of Numbers

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Hickory fell 0.1 percentage points in December 2011 to 12.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 2.3 percentage points higher than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Hickory peaked in December 2009 at 15.0% and is now 2.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 11.8% in March 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Hickory unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
National 8.5% -0.2 -0.9
North Carolina 9.9% -0.1 +0.1
Hickory 12.2% -0.1 -0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Hickory, North Carolina, National

Hickory, North Carolina monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Hickory, North Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Hickory peaked in May 2009 at 25,759. There are now 5,881 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 19,210 in April 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 668. Hickory employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Hickory, North Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
Hickory 19,878 -251 -505

Number of Unemployed Persons

Hickory, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
North Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Hickory
Unemployment Rate
Hickory
Unemployed
January
2012
8.3%
December
2011
8.5% 9.9% 12.2% 19,878
November
2011
8.7% 10.0% 12.3% 20,129
October
2011
8.9% 10.4% 12.5% 20,585
September
2011
9.0% 10.5% 12.6% 20,716
August
2011
9.1% 10.4% 12.4% 20,381
July
2011
9.1% 10.1% 12.2% 19,920
June
2011
9.1% 9.9% 12.1% 19,717
May
2011
9.0% 9.7% 11.8% 19,247
April
2011
9.0% 9.7% 11.8% 19,210
March
2011
8.9% 9.7% 11.8% 19,304
February
2011
9.0% 9.8% 12.0% 19,682
January
2011
9.1% 9.8% 12.3% 20,243

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.