The First State’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate jumped by three tenths of a point to 6.5 percent in August, marking the fourth straight month of a rising jobless rate in Delaware.
It’s also the largest monthly increase in the state unemployment rate this year.
But George Sharpley, the chief economist with the state’s Department of Labor, says the rise is due to 1,700 more Delawareans entering the labor force in August. Sharpley adds the economy overall is headed on the right track.
"The pace of job growth has been pretty strong. The unemployment rate going up is obviously not ideal, but I think it’s indicative of an economy that’s doing pretty well and not really a sign of weakness," said Sharpley. "The problem is always the unforeseen things, sometimes you just don’t know what’s around the corner. But as of right now, things are looking pretty good."
Sharpley says Delaware is on pace to add 10,000 more jobs to payrolls this year, an increase of 1,500 over 2013.
The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Wilmington rose by one tenth of a point to 6.8 in August.
At the county level, Kent saw its jobless rate rise to 7.3 from 7.0 in July. New Castle County’s rate now stands at 6.8 percent, up two tenths of a point from the previous month.
Sussex County saw the largest rise in its unemployment rate, up four tenths of a point to 5.7 percent in August.