NC's March unemployment rate drops to 9.2 percent
At Petronella Computer Consultants, president Craig Petronella was the only one in the office late on a Friday while his staff was out in the field.
"They're servicing networks for our customers. Onboarding new clients and rolling out new solutions," said Petronella.
It is a small office and only a staff of five but the company is expanding and hiring.
"Engineers have to have experience on different levels for our customers. It's not the same type of work everyday. So since it's unique it requires a different type of individual," said Petronella.
Petronella's company is not the only one. The state Department of Commerce classifies computer consultants as part of professional and business services, which last month added more than 4,000 jobs and saw the highest job growth of any other industry by state.
The second highest was information followed by education and health services. Overall unemployment for March dropped to 9.2 percent, a slight decrease from February but still well above the national average of 7.6 percent.
Labor officials say the trends seem typical for this time of year but said it is tough to tell what kind of job market graduates will face in the coming months.
"What we've seen at least over the last year is steady job growth. Every job sector outside of construction has had job gains since this time last year. But going forward it's just too difficult for us to tell," said DES Acting Public Information Director Larry Parker.
Petronella thinks the trend will continue at least in the technology field as the state aims to get its unemployment rate under 9 percent.
Read more here: https://triangle.news14.com/content/693137/nc-s-march-unemployment-rate-drops-to-9-2-percent
