Pitt County experienced a slight increase in its jobless rate between November in December, with the latest figures showing 9.5 percent of the county’s workforce still without gainful employment. The economic recovery slowly taking hold in some corners of the country seems conspicuously absent here despite the best efforts of local officials.

Greenville’s new mayor and City Council ranked job creation and economic development high on the list of priorities at their annual planning retreat, echoing the themes heard on the campaign trail last year. These figures underscore the daunting challenge they and the Pitt County Board of Commissioners face as they look to build budgets that can facilitate, rather than inhibit, job growth.

The state Division of Employment Security released the latest jobless numbers on Wednesday in what has become a monthly horror show for much of North Carolina. Some 93 of the state’s 100 counties reported higher unemployment numbers, including Pitt County’s increase from 9.3 percent in November to 9.5 percent one month later. It bears reminding that this community is incredibly fortunate when compared to surrounding counties, where the jobless rate remains astronomically high.

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