Department of Numbers

Rocky Mount, North Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rocky Mount fell 0.3 percentage points in December 2011 to 13.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 3.3 percentage points higher than the North Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Rocky Mount peaked in February 2010 at 14.4% and is now 1.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 12.5% in March 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Rocky Mount 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
Rocky Mount 13.2% -0.3 +0.6
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: Rocky Mount, North Carolina, National

Rocky Mount, North Carolina monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Rocky Mount, North Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Rocky Mount peaked in January 2010 at 10,144. There are now 787 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 8,666 in March 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 691. Rocky Mount employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rocky Mount, North Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
Rocky Mount 9,357 -193 +482

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rocky Mount, North Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
North Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Rocky Mount
Unemployment Rate
Rocky Mount
Unemployed
January
2012
8.3%
December
2011
8.5% 9.9% 13.2% 9,357
November
2011
8.7% 10.0% 13.5% 9,550
October
2011
8.9% 10.4% 13.9% 9,853
September
2011
9.0% 10.5% 13.9% 9,937
August
2011
9.1% 10.4% 13.7% 9,782
July
2011
9.1% 10.1% 13.3% 9,496
June
2011
9.1% 9.9% 12.9% 9,133
May
2011
9.0% 9.7% 12.6% 8,829
April
2011
9.0% 9.7% 12.5% 8,691
March
2011
8.9% 9.7% 12.5% 8,666
February
2011
9.0% 9.8% 12.6% 8,741
January
2011
9.1% 9.8% 12.7% 8,873

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.