Unemployment rates rise in Virginia metro areas

Published July 30, 2013 by Robert Powell, III

Unemployment rates in Virginia’s metro areas rose in June.

Following a slight increase in the state jobless rate, unemployment ticked up in a range of three tenths to six tenths of a percentage in 11 urban areas around the commonwealth.

Northern Virginia remained the area with the lowest jobless rate, 4.8 percent, up from 4.4 percent in May.

Likewise, the Danville area still had the highest unemployment rate, 8.4 percent, up from 8 percent in May.

The unemployment figures are not seasonally adjusted, meaning they do not take into account seasonal changes in the workforce. The state seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate for June was 6 percent, up from 5.6 percent in May , while the national jobless rate using the same measurement was 7.8 percent, up from 7.3 percent.

Here is a rundown of the unemployment picture in other metro areas:

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford: 6.7 percent in June, up from 6.1 percent in May.
Charlottesville: 5.5 percent, up from 5 percent.
Hampton Roads: 6.4 percent, up from 6 percent.
Harrisonburg: 6.1 percent, up from 5.7 percent .
Bristol: 7.3 percent, up from 7 percent.
Lynchburg: 7 percent, up from 6.4 percent.
Richmond: 6.3 percent, up from 6 percent.
Roanoke: 6.3 percent, up from 5.9 percent.
Winchester: 5.3 percent, up from 5 percent.