Delaware economy: more jobs; less unemployed in July

Delaware’s jobs picture was a little brighter in July.

Delaware’s jobs picture was a little brighter in July.  The Delaware Department of labor reports the unemployment rate dropped from 8.5% in June to 8.4% in July.  That’s still not as good as things were a year ago when the rate was 8.2%.  The rate translates to 35,000 jobless.

In the last year there have been 3,600 new jobs added to the Delaware economy.  That’s up 0.9% state wide, and that compares to a flat rate nationally.  The national unemployment rate in July was 9.5%

A county by county breakdown of jobs numbers shows an 8.8% rate in New Castle County.  The Wilmington jobless rate is 12.2%.  Kent County had an 8.5% rate and Sussex County’s rate dropped to 7.2%

Manufacturing jobs continued to decline.  The biggest increase in job creation was in the retail and hospitality industry.