Delaware jobless rate rises in June

Mimicking similar unemployment figures nationwide, Delaware’s jobless rate rose to 6.1 percent in June, up from 5.9 percent in May.

The Delaware Dept. of Labor reported that the 0.2 percent increase can be traced to more people looking for work. 1,300 more people were employed in June compared to the same period last year. There were also 700 more people who claimed to be unemployed.

In June 2013, the unemployment rate in Delaware was 6.9 percent.

The upward trend is being felt statewide, with all three counties revealing rising rates of unemployment. New Castle County’s unemployment rate was 6.6 percent, a 0.7 percent jump.  Sussex County registered only a 0.2 percent rise.

Unemployment rates in Delaware’s cities are trending somewhat higher. In Wilmington, the June jobless figure stood at 9.3 percent. Seemingly high, it represents a decrease from last June, when the city experienced a double-digit unemployment rate of 10.7 percent.