North Carolina unemployment rates have continued to drop over the past few months.

The unemployment rate in Surry County decreased in November of 2011; dropping from 10.1 percent to 9.7 percent, according to a report from the Division of Employment Security Commission (DES).

In comparison, Surry County’s unemployment rate in November 2010 was 11 percent.

The report released on Jan. 4 said the rate has dropped in 74 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. However, unemployment has increased in 20 counties and remained the same in six.

“Unemployment rates continued to drop across North Carolina in November,” said N.C. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll. “Over the year, rates have decreased in 71 counties. We remain focused on assisting our customers at our DES offices and JobLink Career Centers statewide.”

However, Surry county continues to have a higher unemployment rate than surrounding Stokes and Forsyth counties; Stokes with 8.5 percent and Forsyth with 8.8 percent.

Yadkin County’s unemployment rate is 8.8 percent. Yadkin County’s rate has dropped considerably from a 9.5 percent unemployment rate in November 2010.

Surry County still has a lower unemployment rate than both Alleghany County with a 10.9 percent rate and Wilkes County with a 10.6 percent rate in November 2011.

Unemployment rates dropped further in December, according to a report released on Jan. 24 by the Employment Security Commission. The report said the number of people unemployed in North Carolina dropped from 10 to 9.9 percent.

Leisure and hospitality jobs have been rising with 11,800 jobs since December 2010.

“Governor Perdue’s mission on jobs for North Carolina continues to be our focus,” Carroll said. “Looking at the private sector over the year, we are seeing some moderate signs of improvement. We remain committed to assisting our customers statewide with our programs and services available at our local offices.”

The statewide unemployment rate dropped to from 10 percent in November 2011 to 9.9 percent in December 2011. This is still higher than the national unemployment rate of 8.5 percent.

Surry County is one of 51 counties with rates at 10 percent or above.

North Carolina had 49 counties that were above the state’s unadjusted employment rate of 10 percent.

Scotland County has the highest unemployment rate at 16.6 percent, and Orange County had the lowest unemployment rate at 5.8 percent, according to DES.

More information concerning unemployment rates for the state and its counties can be found at the DES website, http://www.ncesc.com.