LUMBERTON — The unemployment rate rose slightly in Robeson County in the month of July, though that increase is less than what has typically been seen at midsummer in recent years.

Robeson’s not seasonally adjusted jobless rate rose from 5.5% in June to 5.6% in July. However, in July of 2023 and 2024, the rate spiked by half a point or more each time. Robeson’s rate has dropped over the last 12 months, from 6.4% in July 2024.

Robeson’s rate climbed from 4.8% in May to 5.5% in June, though that increase is one often seen in the early summer as the number of job-seeking individuals grows with students on summer break from school and graduates seeking to enter the workforce full-time.

Scotland County, which has had the highest rate in the Sandhills area, saw its jobless rate drop from 5.5%

See Full Page