A growing need.

• Position: Statewide

The latest census figures showed North Carolina's Povetry rate the highest it had been in at least 15 years, but struggling Tar Heels can't expect much aid from state government. The number living in poverty increased 24.3% from 2008 to 2010. botstered by a 6.8% decrease in median household income. But despite hundreds of thousands joining the ranks of the poor, this fiscal year's budget reduces spending for health and human services and education nearly $1.2 billion, according to the Raleigh-based North Carolina Justice Center, a liberal think tank.

1.6 million

Tar Heel residents living in poverty in 2010

13 North Carolina's rank among states with the highest poverty rates

$22,314

2010 poverty threshold for a family of four

Getting off to a start

Number of counties with a povetry rate for school-age residents equal to or higher than the national average

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WORKING CAPITAL WESTERN CHARLOTTE TRIAD TRIANGLE EASTERN Employed: 455,187 975,989 724,318 913,146 1,000,610 YTD change: 10,306 4,744 18,005 14,981 20,901 Index: 93.8 102.1 95.7 112.2 104.4 Source: Division of Employment Security, December. Figures are not seasonally adjusted. The index is the number of jobs as a percentage of the average in 2000. COUNTY INDEX 2000-10 change (in percentage points) * increase * decrease 1. Alamance 9.1 2. Alexander 7.5 3. Alleghany 9.4 4.Anson; 5.8 5. Ashe 6.1 6. Avery 8.6 7. Beaufort 3.6 8. Bertie 6.2 9. Bladen 3.8 10. Brunswick 33 11. Buncombe 5.7 12. Burke 7.7 13. Cabarrus 4.7 14. ldwell 7.4 15. den 0.3 16. Carteret 2.7 17. Caswell 7.7 18. Catawba 5.6 19. chatham 5.5 20. Cherokee 3.1...