TRIAD – The High Point area job market, though still sluggish, is showing signs that provide hope to job service counselor Ikel Williams.

As the manager of the High Point office of the N.C. Employment Security Commission, Williams deals each weekday with local residents seeking a job. Many remain without a paycheck, but the indicators at least are more promising than discouraging, Williams said.

“We’re still encouraged by the job referrals we’re getting in and the job orders we’re receiving, It’s steady. We’re receiving more (referrals) than this same time last year,” Williams said.

The ESC reported Friday that unemployment fell from April to May in most areas of North Carolina. Unemployment rates fell in 86 of 100 counties from April to May, including three counties in the High Point area, the ESC reported. Randolph County’s rate dropped from 10.5 percent to 10.1 percent, while Davidson County’s rate fell from 12.1 percent to 11.9 percent.

The Guilford County unemployment rate slipped slightly from 10.5 percent to 10.4 percent. The city of High Point jobless rate edged up slightly from 10.5 percent in April to 10.6 percent in May. However, the city jobless rate has improved from the 11.9 percent mark in May of last year, according to ESC figures.

The number of employed workers increased by 6,498 during May, while the number of people listed as unemployed fell by 9,079, the ESC reports.

“Some counties benefited from seasonal hiring, which is typical this time of the year,” said ESC Chairwoman Lynn Holmes in Raleigh.

Still, the state’s job market has many strides to make before returning to some semblance of normality, said John Quinterno, principal with South by North Strategies out of Chapel Hill.

Despite the improvement in the job market during the spring, 53 counties posted double-digit unemployment rates last month and 21 counties recorded unemployment rates of at least 12 percent, South by North Strategies reports.

pjohnson@hpe.com | 888-3528