LUMBERTON — Robeson County’s unemployment rate increased to 9.5 percent in July, according to information released recently by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

The county’s labor force consisted of 50,435 residents, with 4,785 of those people looking for work.

Although the unemployment rate climbed from 9.1 percent in June, it’s still down from the 10.2 percent rate recorded for July 2014.

Unemployment rates during July increased in 79 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, decreased in six and remained unchanged in 15 counties. Robeson County had the state’s seventh highest unemployment rate.

Graham and Scotland counties were tied for the state’s highest unemployment rate, with both posting an 11.7 percent rate. Buncombe County’s rate of 4.8 percent is the state’s lowest.

The statewide unemployment rate was 6.3 percent in July. Out of a labor force comprising 4.8 million North Carolinians, 302,103 people were unemployed, according to the Department of Commerce.

Unemployment rates for the five counties bordering Robeson also increased. They were: Cumberland County, 8.2 percent, up from 7.7 percent in June; Hoke County, 8.7 percent, up from 8.4 percent; Columbus County, 8.2 percent, up from 7.9 percent; and Bladen County, 9 percent, up from 8.5 percent.

The 11.7 percent unemployment rate in Scotland County remained unchanged from June.

By Jaymie Baxley

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Reporter Jaymie Baxley can be reached at 910-416-5771 or by email at [email protected]