RALEIGH, N.C. -- Eighty-two of North Carolina's 100 counties experienced an unemployment rate increase in May, according to statistics released today by the state's Employment Security Commission. Rates decreased in 16 counties and remained the same in two.

"All of the state's 100 counties continue to be challenged by this recession. But, in its role to help maintain economic stability in communities across North Carolina, the ESC has paid nearly $3 billion dollars in benefits over the course of a year" said ESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. "We continue to work with customers in our 89 offices statewide - and over the Internet and telephone - to make sure those seeking work can find a position and those needing unemployment benefits receive those monies."

North Carolina had 46 counties which were at or below the state's unadjusted unemployment rate of 11.1 percent. Rates increased in all 14 of the state's Metropolitan Statistical Areas.

Total county employment (not-seasonally adjusted) decreased in May by 20,335 workers, from 4,079,980 to 4,059,645.

Not-seasonally adjusted unemployment increased, by 26,750 workers. The unemployment total in May was 505,445 workers, compared with 478,695 in April.

Currituck County had the state's lowest unemployment rate in May, at 6.3 percent. Meanwhile, Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate, at 17.2 percent.

The five counties receiving the highest amount in unemployment insurance benefits in May were: Mecklenburg, $25.9 million; Wake, $20.3 million; Guilford, $12.6 million; Gaston, $8 million; and Forsyth, $7.7 million. In May, $239.4 million in benefits was paid to 239,894 individuals statewide, compared with $268.1 million to 249,422 individuals in April.