Despite a net loss of 100 jobs, Asheville metropolitan area unemployment dropped to 7.7 percent in October, among the lowest in the state, according to data from the state’s Division of Employment Security.
The Asheville area had minor job losses in a variety of areas including education, leisure and hospitality as well as manufacturing, offsetting a gain of 500 government jobs throughout the four county (Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood and Madison) area. However, unemployment measures people looking for a job that can’t find one, and can decrease by people dropping out of the job market entirely, as well as finding new work.
Buncombe County also saw a considerable drop in unemployment in October, from 7.9 percent to 7.5 percent, making it (and neighboring Henderson County, with 7.6 percent unemployment), among the counties with the lowest unemployment rates in the state. The Asheville metro area as a whole had the second lowest unemployment in the state. Only Durham-Chapel Hill, at 7.5 percent, was lower.
The figures are not adjusted to reflect seasonal shifts in the labor market.
More folks are being let go at arvato digital services today.
The have started replacing the laid off long-term employees with temporary staff employees.