(RALEIGH) -- Unemployment rates decreased or stayed the same in 74 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in July.  The jobless rate increased in 26 counties.

“Compared to the same time last year, nearly all of the state’s counties have a lower unemployment rate," said N.C. Department of Commerce
Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll.

North Carolina had 34 counties that were at or below the state’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 9.8 percent. Unemployment rates decreased in 8 of the state’s 14 Metropolitan Statistical Areas.

Currituck County reported the lowest jobless rate in July at 4.7 percent. Scotland County came in with the highest unemployment rate at 17.6 percent.