Caldwell County's unemployment rate dipped ever so slightly in September.

According to data released Friday by the North Carolina Employment Security Commission, Caldwell's unemployment figure fell to 15.2 percent during the month, down from 15.3 in August.

The county's labor force was 164 workers less than August, and the number of employed fell by 81, contributing to the minor change in rate reflection.

Caldwell's unemployment rate now has been in double digits for 11 consecutive months and has been 15 percent or higher the last eight months. The figure was 8.3 percent a year ago at the same time.

Statewide, rates decreased in 76 counties, increased in 14 and stayed the same in 10.

"The global and national recession continues to affect our state," NCESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. said. "While 76 counties across North Carolina experienced an unemployment rate decrease, we must remember that most of these same counties remain at a high rate. We're encouraged by some recent job announcements, but we are also aware of some continued layoffs."

Sixty-four counties in North Carolina continue to have double-digit unemployment figures with only one (Currituck) at 5 percent or less.

Scotland County had the highest rate in North Carolina at 16.5 percent, with Edgecombe at 16.3. Caldwell's rate is the third highest in the state.

Hyde County had the second lowest rate at 5.9 percent, the only other county in the state with a figure less than 6 percent.

In the Unifour, all counties saw a rate decrease for September, with Caldwell's figure remaining the highest among the four counties. Alexander dropped from 14.5 percent in August to 13.6 for September, while Burke slipped slightly from 14.2 to 14.1. Catawba's rate dropped to 13.6 after checking in at 14.4 in August.

The Hickory/Lenoir/Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) still has the highest rate in North Carolina at 14.1 percent, with Rocky Mount at 13.4.

The state's unemployment rate did not change in September staying at the same figure of 10.8 percent it showed in August. That figure is down from a yearly high of 11.1 percent in May, though it remains higher than the national average of 9.8 percent, which is up from 9.7 in August.

North Carolina's unemployment figure has been in double figures for eight straight months.

"While we have positive news about a small increase in employment across the state, the fact that the unemployment rate remains about the same as it has been for months is a sobering point," Carey said.

The state's unemployment rate in August 2008 was 6.8 percent. North Carolina's labor force has increased 0.2 percent since the start of the recession in December 2007, while its employment has decreased 6 percent. There have been 250,300 nonfarm jobs lost since the recession started, including 93,300 in manufacturing.

During September, a total of $233,774,046 in unemployment insurance benefits was paid out to 204,303 claimants across the state. In the last 12 months, unemployment benefits totaled $2,558,870,708.

Mecklenburg received the highest amount of unemployment insurance benefits in September at $24.1 million, followed by Wake ($18.6 million) and Guilford ($11.5 million).