The unemployment rate for Wilson County rose to 6.6 percent in March from 6.1 percent in February due to seasonal layoffs at tobacco factories.

Seasonal tobacco processing workers were laid off from Alliance One and Universal Leaf in Nash County, said Geneice Hagans, assistant manager with the Wilson office of the state Employment Security Commission.

There were also some sporadic construction layoffs and some manufacturing layoffs from Parker Hannifin Corp. (formerly known as GNC Corp.).

Seasonal tobacco layoffs typically happen during March and April, Hagans said.

Meanwhile, some hiring happened in retail and manufacturing.

"Hopefully next month we'll see a little more of that so hopefully the rate will adjust some," she said.

In surrounding counties, rates changed as follows:

* Edgecombe County's unemployment rate remained at 8.8 percent;

* Johnston County's rate dropped to 4.7 percent in March from 4.8 percent in February;

* Nash County's unemployment rate remained at 6.5 percent in March;

* Pitt County's rate rose to 5.7 percent in March from 5.4 percent in February;

* Wayne County's unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent in March from 5.1 percent in February;

Statewide, unemployment rates dropped in 86 counties in March, rose in seven, and remained the same in seven.

Orange County had the state's lowest rate at 3.4 percent in March. Scotland County had the highest rate at 9.6 percent.

keeter@wilsontimes.com | 265-7817