Jobless rates rise slightly in most Virginia metro areas

Published January 5, 2018 by Robert Powell, III

Unemployment rose slightly in most of Virginia’s metro areas during November.

The Virginia Employment Commission reported on Thursday that nine of 11 metropolitan statistical areas in the commonwealth saw their jobless rates inch up during the month.

Most of the increases were one-tenth of a percentage point. That change is generally in keeping with Virginia’s overall unemployment rate, which rose from 3.5 to 3.6 percent during the month.

The employment rates in Staunton-Waynesboro and Northern Virginia remained unchanged at 3.4 and 3 percent, respectively.

Despite the rate increases, nine of the 11 metro areas recorded unemployment numbers of less than 4 percent. The exceptions were Lynchburg (4.2 percent) and Hampton Roads (4.1 percent).

The national jobless rate during November was 3.9 percent, unchanged from October.

While unemployment rates crept up in most Virginia metro areas in November, almost all MSAs recorded lower numbers compared with the same month 12 months before.

Most of the 12-month declines were one-tenth to two- tenths of a percentage point. Bristol, however, saw its employment rate drop half a percentage point from November 2016 to November 2017.

A breakdown of the numbers:

Bristol: 3.9 percent in November, up from 3.8 percent in October.
Charlottesville: 3.2 percent, up from 3.1 percent.
Hampton Roads: 4.1 percent, up from 4 percent.
Harrisonburg: 3.5 percent, up from 3.3 percent.
Lynchburg: 4.2 percent, up from 4 percent.
New River Valley: 3.8 percent, up from 3.5 percent.
Northern Virginia, 3 percent, unchanged.
Richmond: 3.8 percent, up from 3.7 percent.
Roanoke: 3.6 percent, up from 3.5 percent.
Staunton-Waynesboro: 3.4 percent, unchanged.
Winchester: 3.2 percent, up from 3 percent.