| 112th Year, 1st Issue | Thursday, August 17, 2000 | Sparta, North Carolina |
Unemployment rates are on the rise here and in neighboring Grayson County, Va., according to employment data.
After the rate fell below three percent at one point this year, it sky-rocketed to 6.8 percent in June. That figure shows an increase of about three percent from the May figures.
In neighboring Grayson County, Va. unemployment rates hit 9.3 percent in June, up from 4.8 percent in May.
The national unemployment rate is only 4.2 percent.
The Alleghany rate includes the workers from Bassett-Walker, which shut down this past spring, according to Arville Scott of the Employment Security Commission's office in Sparta. However, things are likely to get worse before they get better.
"We have not begun to see any of the Carolina Narrow employees or Lowe's (Hardware) employees," Scott said.
Meanwhile, Spring Ford Knitting has issued a temporary layoff at its plant here in Sparta, after earlier having been approved for NAFTA benefits. No notice of the plant's closing has been given.
"I wish I could give some real good news about the employment picture here, but I just can't," Scott said.
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