Rural counties experience most job losses, says report

Western North Carolina lost jobs for the sixth consecutive month in October, according to data in the Western North Carolina Economic Index and Report compiled at Appalachian State University. The region's economic activity fell .1 percent in October, which follows a .5 decline (revised) in September and no movement in July and August.

Seasonally adjusted employment for western North Carolina decreased .55 percent in October. The region has lost jobs in 22 of the past 23 months. Statewide adjusted employment fell .1 percent in October. The index, which tracks the level of economic activity in 25 western North Carolina counties, is down 2 over the previous 12 months.

"Rural parts of the region continue to struggle more than the rest of the region, which was the case in the 2001 recession," said Todd Cherry, a co-author of the Western North Carolina Economic Report and director of the Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis at Appalachian.

"While there were job gains in eight of the 25 counties, job losses continue to be a problem," Cherry said. "The region lost another 3,000 jobs in October. It may be some time before we begin seeing broad-based growth in regional employment." The seasonally adjusted WNC unemployment rate registered 12.4 percent in October—up .2 points from September.