CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - New numbers released Friday show a spike in unemployment throughout the Charlotte region.
In Mecklenburg County, the rate jumped by just over half a point, to 9.6 percent. The rate was 9.0 percent in March. It's a similar story in every county in the region, from Catawba to Rowan, to Chester County, South Carolina.
At the unemployment office on Executive Center Dr. in Charlotte, dozens of people showed up to look for jobs on Friday.
"Today I came in feeling kind of under the weather about my situation, and I attended a workshop class and I left feeling really motivated," said Charlotte resident Brian Stewart, who is currently searching for steady work.
According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the unemployment rate tends to spike during the summer as more people, including recent graduates, search for jobs.
The month-to-month rates, however, don't tell the whole story. Year to-year, the rates have improved. In May of 2011, Mecklenburg County had a 10.6 percent unemployment rate. As of May, 2012, the rate was 9.6 percent.
Stewart says finding a job is all about being proactive.
"You've got to attend the workshops. You've got to attend the job search classes. They help you with your resumes and they help a lot of people feel better about themselves," he said.
Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.
