Preliminary figures indicate employment in Pitt County increased in 2006 with a total of 72,628 compared to 69,604 in 2005; the labor force increased by 2,803 to 76,671. The overall rate of unemployment in 2006 dropped to 5.3% from 5.8% the previous year. New and expanded industrial investments for 2006 included Fuji Silysia Chemical, PaperPak, Metrics, and Welex. These and other primary investments for 2006 total in excess of $33.3 million and will provide 200 new jobs when the projects are completed.
