Shutdown forces delay in release of local jobless rates

Published October 2, 2013 by Robert Powell, III

One ripple effect of the federal government shutdown is a delay in the release of Virginia local unemployment rates.

The Virginia Employment Commission today issued a statement saying it was unable to release local jobless rates for August because of yesterday’s closing of many federal agencies.

“During the shutdown, we will not be able to update any Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data that is on our website, www.VirginiaLMI.com. Updates of the BLS data on our website will start again when the Federal Government resumes operations,” the VEC said.

The shutdown was caused by an impasse in Congress on a bill that would fund the government’s operation. Oct. 1 was the beginning of a new fiscal year for the government.