Surry County’s jobless numbers didn’t increase in July, but the county is still suffering from double-digit unemployment that isn’t decreasing either, according to numbers released Friday by state Division of Employment Security (DES).

Out of a total civilian labor force of 33,022, the county reported 29,537 employed workers and 3,485 unemployed residents, resulting in a 10.6 percent unemployment rate.

This rate is the same as was reported in June, but is up a half-percent from the May numbers of 10.1 percent.

Neighboring Stokes County is faring a little better, according to the DES, with the county reporting an unemployment rate of 9.3 percent.

This is the same rate Stokes County reported in June. In May, Stokes County reported a jobless rate of 8.9 percent.

Stokes County reported 2,277 jobless workers out of a total civilian labor force of 24,387.

Wilkes County is also reeling from double-digit unemployment, reporting an 11.1 percent jobless rate.

The DES reports that Wilkes County has 3,344 out-of-work residents out of a total civilian labor force of 30,129. The county reported 26,785 residents holding down jobs.

The July numbers, while still high, are a little better than in the previous month, during which Wilkes County reported an 11.2 percent jobless rate.

Alleghany County’s jobless numbers also rise to the double-digits, with 477 workers out of work out of a total civilian labor force of 4,587, resulting in a 10.4 percent jobless rate.

The jobless numbers in Yadkin County are still in the single-digits, but show a one-tenth of a percent increase over June’s figures, rising to 9 percent.

The county reported 1,724 residents out of work out of a civilian labor force of 19,249, according to the DES.

Statewide, North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate increased two-tenths of a percent last month, to 9.6 percent.

This trend mirrors the national unemployment rate, which increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 8.3 percent.

Across the state, the number of people employed dropped by 13,733, to 4,202,281, according to the DES.

Reach Keith Strange at kstrange@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1929.