Polk County’s unemployment rate in December 2016 dropped slightly from its November rate, but the county’s ranking statewide dropped from the 32nd lowest in the state in November to the 14th lowest in the state in December, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce.

Polk County’s unemployment rate in December was 4.4 percent, compared to 4.6 percent in November 2016. Polk County’s October unemployment rate was 4.5 percent.

Polk County’s December 2016 workforce was 8,979 people, with 396 people unemployed, according to the department of commerce. In November 2016, Polk County had 405 people unemployed.

The statewide unemployment rate in December was 4.9 percent, so Polk County was under the state average for the month.

Buncombe County remained the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.7 percent, followed by Orange and Wake counties at 4 percent; Alexander, Henderson and Chatham counties at 4.1 percent; Granville and Union counties at 4.2 percent; Durham, Yadkin and Davie counties at 4.3 percent and Watauga, Johnston and Polk counties at 4.4 percent, according to the department of commerce.

Nearby Rutherford County had a December 2016 unemployment rate of 6.2 percent and ranked 77th in the state.

Hyde County ranked the highest unemployment rate in the state at 11.6 percent with Tyrrell being the second highest unemployment rate in the state at 10.3 percent.

Polk County’s December 2015 unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, according to the department of commerce.

Unemployment rates, not seasonally adjusted increased in 71 North Carolina counties (out of 100 total counties) in December, decreased in nine and remained unchanged in 20 counties for the month.

The number of people employed statewide increased in December 2016 by 290 people to 4,661,550 total, while those unemployed increased 5,538 to 239,491 total unemployed.

Over the last year, since December 2015, workers employed statewide increased 153,223 while those unemployed decreased 10,780, according to the department of commerce.

The next unemployment data is scheduled to be released on Monday, March 13 when the statewide unemployment rate will be released for January 2017. Data for individual counties will be released following the statewide data.