New jobs reported in WNC

The region’s economy continued to expand in September with economic activity in Western North Carolina increasing .4 percent in September, continuing a trend of solid growth.

“September provided stronger than expected employment gains, with job growth in the region outpacing the national job growth rate,” said Todd Cherry, an economist at Appalachian State University and an author of the Western North Carolina Economic Index. Cherry is the Harlan E. Boyles Professor in Appalachian’s Walker College of Business. “The growth in jobs was spread throughout much of the region.” WNC added nearly 2,000 jobs during the third quarter of 2005, a .34 percent increase, and the economy grew 4 percent during the third quarter. The national economy growth rate was 3.8 percent. Seasonally adjusted employment for WNC increased .28 percent, the largest increase in six months. Employment in the state increased .3 percent in September, while nationally employment increased .14 percent. Eighteen of the 25 counties in WNC recorded job growth in September, up from 10 in August. Swain and Transylvania counties had the biggest job gains, while Watauga and Graham counties had the largest loses. The region’s seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment remained unchanged at 5.9 percent. The adjusted state unemployment rate fell .1-percentage point to 5.5 percent while the national rate increased .2 point to 5.1 percent.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate within the region’s rural counties decreased .2-percentage point to 6.3 percent in September. Rates decreased .2-percentage point to 4.7 percent for the Asheville metro area and increased .1 point to 6.7 percent

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