The latest statistics from the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina show that Gates County’s unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the state with only 183 workers of a labor force of 4,873 currently without jobs.

Gates County’s rate of unemployment stands at 3.8 percent, which is considerably lower than rates in neighboring Bertie, Hertford and Northampton counties.

In Bertie County, unemployment stands at 7.6 percent, or 630 of a workforce totaling 8,332 currently without jobs.

Hertford County has a labor force of 9,485, and of that number 550 are unemployed pushing their jobless rate to 5.8 percent.

Northampton County has 642 unemployed in its workforce of 8,663, causing the county to show a 7.4 percent jobless level.

All statistics are from the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina and they were released the first week of December.

Gates County’s largest employer is the Educational System and even though the county doesn’t have the advantage of large industry, the employment rate continues to rise. According to ESC Chairman Harry E. Payne Jr., the November rate is lower than that reported in October.

Across the state, Currituck County had the lowest unemployment rate in October, coming in at 2.2 percent. Only 47 counties, including Gates, had rates equal to or less than the 5.1 percent state rate.

Statewide, figures show that in North Carolina’s 100 counties, 38 saw unemployment rates rise; the rate dropped in 37 and in 25, it remained level.