The summer months are often good times for people to find temporary employment, but a recent report shows that the county’s unemployment rate went down only slightly in July.

The rate of those without jobs in the county dropped from 11.4 percent to 11.1 percent, which Bobbi Wessling with the Employment Security Commission did not regard as very significant.

Similar to her response in recent months, Wessling said, “I’m thinking it’s pretty much going to stay static.”

She said this year there were very few summer jobs available. “If you really worked hard at it, there were a few jobs to be found. Employers have been very cautious.”

The slight decrease in unemployment may even be a result of the increasing number of people whose unemployment benefits are running out and who are dropping out of the workforce completely. These people are not included in the percentage of people unemployed, so there is no accurate way to measure how many people are actually out of work.

Wessling manages the ESC office in Mount Airy, and she said her office has received many inquiries from people interested in taking college classes or attending trade skills training while they are unemployed. She doesn’t know how many of these people are actually enrolling in classes, though.

Although August brings the start of school and a shift in the work season, Wessling still expects to see little change in the rate in the future.

“I’m expecting it not to increase a lot, not to decrease a lot, unless some large layoffs come,” she said.

Todd Tucker, president of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership, said he has not heard any rumors of upcoming layoffs.

Wessling said she expects unemployment to remain between 11 and 11.5 percent within the coming months. Although 11.1 percent unemployment in July is not desirable, last year at that time the rate was 12.5 percent.

Among the Piedmont area consisting of Davie, Forsyth, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin counties, Rockingham is the only county with a higher jobless rate than Surry. The percentage of the labor force unemployed in Rockingham County was 11.3 percent in July.

Statewide, the unemployment rate was 9.9 percent. The unemployment rate decreased in 86 counties. In June the rate was 10.2 percent.

Tucker said the EDP continues to work to create jobs in the county. He believes there is one company who is seriously considering locating in the area. He hopes to have an answer from the company by the end of the year.

“Hopefully we’ll get some good news,” Tucker remarked.

Next week, N.C. Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco is expected to visit the county to tour a new facility and discuss the needs of the county.