Mountain area update : labor market information [2005 : March]

w Mountain Area Updat March 29, 2005 Quick Facts: Civilian Labor Force January 2005 Not Seasonally Adjusted Buncombe Henderson Madison Transylvania 1 1 1 ,099 44,451 9,552 11,113 North Carolina 4,254,508 Civilian Labor Force December 2004 Not Season ally Actuated Buncombe Henderson Madison Transylvania North Carolina 111,242 44,461 9,518 11,653 4,255,897 Average Weekly Wage All Industries Quarter Ending Sept 2004 Buncombe $584 Henderson $555 Madison $488 Transylvania $504 North Carolina $645 Average Weekly Wage All Industries Quarter Ending Sept 2003 Buncombe $562 Henderson $534 Madison $451 Transylvania $491 North Carolina $629 III Benefits Paid To Unemployed Workers February 2005 $67,765,278 NC Ul Average Weekly Benefit - February 2005 $244.39 NC Maximum Weekly Benefit Amount - $426 Labor Market Information Unemployment Rates January December* 2005 2004 Buncombe 4.6 4.2 Henderson 4.6 4.1 Madison 5.8 4.9 Transylvania 6.7 6.2 North Carolina 5.5 5.3 North Carolina* 5.0 5.3 February county rates will be released 4/1/2005. "Seasonally Adjusted " Data are revised and subject to change. Unemployment Average Duration Rate’ Year Ending Year Ending Duration Feb. 28,2005 Feb. 29, 2004 Change Buncombe 13.3 12.9 0.4 Henderson 12.6 11.1 1.5 Madison 14.4 12.8 1.6 Transylvania 14.5 19.0 -4.5 North Carolina 13.8 14.1 -0.3 " Average Duration is defined as the number of weeks compensated for the year divided by the number of first payments. Gender and Age of Individuals Filing Initial Claims Mountain Area WDB — February 2005 Age: 16-19 2% Gender: Female 37% 20-24 10% Male 63% 25-34 25% 35-44 27% 45-54 23% 55-64 11% 65+ 2% Unemployment Insurance Claims Activity February 2005 Total Weeks Benefits Claims Claims Paid Buncombe 873 7,843 $1,654,415 Henderson 294 2,811 $635,886 Madison 62 868 $214,388 Transylvania 71 747 $157,401 Statewide 48,626 329,675 $67,765,278 m m