Polk County’s unemployment rate in November was just under the state average with 405 people unemployed, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce.

Polk County ranked 32nd in the state in the unemployment rate for the month of November at 4.6 percent. The county’s October unemployment rate was slightly lower at 4.5 percent, according to the department of commerce.

The state average for November was 4.8 percent.

Polk’s unemployment rate dropped slightly this November compared to its 4.9 percent unemployment rate in November 2015.

The county had a workforce of 8,792 people in November this year with 405 people unemployed to figure the 4.6 percent rate.

Buncombe County remained the lowest unemployment rate in the state in November with a rate of 3.7 percent.

Buncombe was followed in November by Orange County (3.7 percent), Watauga County (3.9 percent), Wake County (4 percent), Union County (4 percent), Alexander County (4 percent), Henderson County (4.1 percent), Yadkin County (4.1 percent), Chatham County (4.1 percent) and Granville County (4.3 percent).

The highest unemployment rate in the state was in Hyde County in November at 9.4 percent with the second highest rate coming from Scotland County at 8.6 percent, according to the department of commerce.

Nearby Rutherford County ranked 82nd in the state with a 6.1 percent unemployment rate. Rutherford County had a workforce of 24,911 with 1,529 people unemployed.

Compared to November 2015, unemployment rates decreased in 98 counties, increased in one and remain the same in one county.

The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in November 2016 by 2,112 to 4,661,632, according to the department of commerce. People unemployed statewide decreased by 2,412 in November to 234,214 total unemployed statewide in November. Since November 2015 the number of people employed statewide increased by 137,505 while those unemployed decreased by 25,723, according to the department of commerce.

December 2016’s state unemployment rates are scheduled to be released by the department of commerce on Jan. 24, 2017 while the county breakdown will be released later.