Jobless rates down in most Virginia metro areas

Published December 29, 2016 by Robert Powell, III

Unemployment fell in most of Virginia’s urban areas during November.

The Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday that November jobless rates declined in nine of 11 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). Rates were unchanged in two metro areas, Bristol and Richmond.

The VEC jobless rate figures are not seasonally adjusted, meaning they do not take into account seasonal fluctuations in the labor market. Using that method of measurement, the nation had an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent in November while the state rate was 4 percent.

The Virginia part of the Bristol area had the highest unemployment rate, 4.7 percent, while Northern Virginia had the lowest, 3.3 percent.

The Harrisonburg area saw the biggest change during the month, a decline of four-tenths of percentage point. Most of the declines were in the range of one-tenth to two-tenths of a percentage.

A breakdown of metro-area numbers show:

Bristol: 4.7 percent in November, unchanged from October.
Charlottesville: 3.4 percent, down from 3.6 percent.
Hampton Roads: 4.5 percent, down from 4.6 percent.
Harrisonburg: 3.8 percent, down from 4.2 percent.
Lynchburg: 4.4 percent, down from 4.6 percent.
Northern Virginia: 3.3 percent, down from 3.4 percent.
New River Valley: 4.3 percent, down from 4.6 percent.
Richmond: 4.1 percent, unchanged.
Roanoke: 3.9 percent, down from 4 percent.
Staunton-Waynesboro: 4 percent, down from 4.1 percent.
Winchester: 3.5 percent, down from 3.6 percent.