The jobless rate also has stopped rising statewide. Eighty-three of North Carolina&squo;s 100 counties experienced an unemployment rate decrease in April, according to statistics from the ESC. Rates increased in 14 counties and remained the same in three.

&dquo;For the second consecutive month, a large number of North Carolina&squo;s counties have had a decrease in their unemployment rate,&dquo; said ESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. &dquo;However, virtually every county in the state continues to work through this difficult and challenging national recession. This agency is here to serve those in need of work search opportunities, for those needing to file unemployment benefits, and to assist businesses to find the workers they need.&dquo;

Statewide, total county employment increased in April by 47,575 workers, from 4,031,877 to 4,079,452. Not-seasonally adjusted unemployment decreased by 16,116 workers. The unemployment total in April was 479,853 workers, compared with 495,969 in March.

Orange County had the state&squo;s lowest unemployment rate in April at 5.8 percent, while Scotland County had the highest at 17.3 percent.

Rutherford County was not among the counties to see a jobless rate decline in April. The unemployment rate rose from 15.6 to 16.1 percent in April, giving Rutherford County the second highest rate in the state.

Rocky Mount had the highest unemployment rate for a metropolitan area in the state at 13.7 percent, while Durham was the lowest at 7.3 percent. Charlotte was at 11.4 percent and Asheville was at 9 percent.