Delaware jobless rate falls

The unemployment rate in Delaware fell by 0.2 percent in May, to 8.0 percent.

 

That means there were 34,000 unemployed Delawareans last month, compared to 35,900 people out of work a year ago.

Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate rose in May to 9.1 percent, up from 9.0 percent in April. In May 2010, the U.S. unemployment rate was 9.6 percent.

Sussex County has the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 6.9 percent, followed by Kent County (7.4 percent) and New Castle County (7.7 percent). The rate in Wilmington is 12 percent, down from 12.1 percent in April, but up from 11.3 percent last year.

Over the past 12 months, the biggest job gains in Delaware were in leisure and hospitality (2,000 jobs), other services (1,000), and education and health (1,000). The biggest losses were in federal government (1,600) and wholesale trade (900).