Caldwell County had the fourth highest unemployment rate in North Carolina during the month of December.

According to data released by the North Carolina Employment Security Commission Friday, Caldwell’s jobless situation worsened during the last month of 2009 as the rate jumped from 15.9 percent in November to 16.7, the highest figure for the county of the year and its highest on record in the last seven years.

Caldwell certainly was not alone in seeing an increased unemployment rate for December. Eighty-six of the state’s 100 counties experienced increased unemployment.

“This recession continues to affect North Carolina’s economy,” NCESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. said. “Virtually every major job sector has been affected.”

Only Graham (17.6 percent), Scotland (17.1 percent) and Rutherford (16.9 percent) had unemployment rates higher than Caldwell’s in December. Caldwell also is one of 73 counties to have double-digit unemployment, five more than November’s total of 68. No county had a rate less than 6.2 percent.

Orange County has the lowest state rate at 6.2 percent, followed by Gates at 6.7 and nearby Watauga at 7.8 percent.

Dare and Hyde counties along the coast saw the biggest surge in unemployment. Dare’s rate jumped 3.9 percentage points to 15.5, while Hyde’s rose 3.4 percentage points to 12.2. Perquimans had the most significant decrease, dropping half a percentage point.

Caldwell, which has had double-digit unemployment for the last 14 months, saw a decrease of 210 workers in its labor force along with a decrease of 487 employed workers to account for its increased unemployment rate. The county’s unemployment rate for December 2008 was 10.7 percent.

Among Unifour counties, only Alexander saw a dip in rate, falling from 13.8 to 13.5 percent. Burke’s rose from 14.1 to 14.2, and Catawba saw an increase from 14 to 14.4.

Caldwell has had the Unifour’s highest unemployment figure for nine straight months.

The Hickory/Lenoir/Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area also had the state’s highest unemployment figure at 14.8 percent, up from 14.4. Rocky Mount was second at 13.9, an increase from 13.5 a month earlier.

North Carolina’s unemployment rate for December went through a rather substantial increase, jumping from 10.8 percent in November to 11.2, the highest rate for the year of 2009 and the third time it passed 11 percent in 12 months.

The state’s unemployment figure in December 2008 was 8.1 percent.

“The effects of a national recession continue to impact our jobless rate,” Carey said. “Clearly, too many people are without a job, which is why we are working hard to provide job search assistance – among other services – for job seekers and unemployment benefits to thousands of people.”

The state rate is higher than the U.S. figure of 10 percent. The national unemployment rate has been in double digits each of the last three months.

The state’s labor force decreased by 12,316 workers in December, and employment declined by 31,338 workers.

Employment in North Carolina has fallen by 6.6 percent since the recession started in December 2007. Nationally, employment has dropped by 5.7 percent during that same span.

The state has lost 248,000 total nonfarm jobs and 95,000 manufacturing positions during the last 24 months.

A total of $213,491,396 in regular unemployment insurance benefits was paid out in December to 217,772 claimants across North Carolina. Benefits paid during the last 12 months totaled more than $2.72 billion.

Mecklenburg paid $22.3 million in unemployment insurance benefits during December, with Wake paying $17.7 million and Guilford $10.6 million.

Caldwell County paid out $58,519,183 in unemployment insurance benefits in 2009.