The unemployment rate rose in the Twin Counties in November.

The increase is tied to the fact that more people were working in November, but at the same time, more people started looking for jobs during that month, said Employment Security Commission of N.C. Rocky Mount Manager Steve Rogers.

Edgecombe County posted a November unemployment rate of 8.3 percent, up from 7.7 percent in October. Nash County's jobless rate for November was 5.6 percent, up from 5.3 percent in October.

The Rocky Mount Metropolitan Statistical Area's rate for November was 6.5 percent, up from 6.2 percent in October.

"More people are in each county than the month before, but we have more people looking," Rogers said. "The labor force increased in each county a little bit more than the gain in employment in each county.

"This does tend to happen when people feel like there is a better chance of finding a job. Some people who may not have been looking for a while start looking again."

While the percentage of unemployed workers increased in 92 North Carolina counties in November, the state also posted a record number of workers in the labor force, creating a mixed labor portrait, ESC Chairman Harry Payne said in a monthly report on North Carolina's unemployment picture.

"While one never wants to see the unemployment rate rise, the overall picture for those at work and, for those seeking a job, is very good," Payne said. "The number of citizens with jobs was near an all-time high in November, with nearly 4.3 million people working that month.

"In addition, many more are seeking work as well, showing that confidence in the economy is very good."

Payne said five counties showed unemployment rate decreases in November, while three remained the same.

Jackson County had the state's lowest unemployment rate, at 3.1 percent in November, and Scotland County had the highest jobless rate, at 9.5 percent, he said.

The five counties receiving the highest amount in unemployment insurance benefits in November were Mecklenburg, $5.9 million; Wake, $4.2 million; Guilford, $3.5 million; Forsyth, $2.1 million; and Cumberland, $2 million, Payne said. A total of $69.1 million in benefits was paid to 85,663 unemployment people in North Carolina in November, compared with $66.3 million to 79,884 jobless people in October.

Unemployment rates in the Metropolitan Statistical Areas for November, compared to October, were Asheville, 3.6 percent, up from 3.1 percent; Burlington, 5.3 percent, up from 5 percent; Charlotte, Gastonia and Concord, 4.8 percent, up from 4.5 percent; Durham, 4 percent, up from 3.7 percent; Fayetteville, 6.1 percent, up from 5.6 percent; Goldsboro, 5.3 percent, up from 4.8 percent; Greensboro and High Point, 5.1 percent, up from 4.6 percent; Hickory, Lenoir and Morganton, 6.3 percent, up from 5.7 percent; Jacksonville, 4.9 percent, up from 4.2 percent; Raleigh and Cary, 3.6 percent, up from 3.3 percent; Wilmington, 4 percent, up from 3.5 percent; and Winston-Salem, 4.4 percent, up from 4.1 percent.

Unemployment rates in neighboring counties for November, compared to October, were Franklin 3.8 percent, up from 3.5 percent; Halifax, 6.7 percent, up from 6.3 percent; Johnston, 3.9 percent, up from 3.5 percent; Northampton, 6.1 percent, up from 5.8 percent; Pitt, 5.3 percent, up from 4.9 percent; Vance, 7.5 percent, up from 7.1 percent; Wake, 3.6 percent, up from 3.2 percent; and Wilson, 6.7 percent, up from 6.6 percent.