Jobless rates rise in Virginia metro areas

Published November 30, 2016 by Robert Powell, III

Unemployment crept upward in most of Virginia’s metro areas during October.

Jobless rates rose in 10 of the commonwealth’s 11 metropolitan statistical areas during the month, according to figures released Wednesday by the Virginia Employment Commission.

The one exception was the Hampton Roads area where unemployment remained unchanged at 4.6 percent.

The VEC figures are not seasonally adjusted, meaning they do not take into account seasonal fluctuations in the labor force.

The lowest jobless rate was seen in Northern Virginia, 3.5 percent, while the highest was in the Bristol area, 4.8 percent.

In addition to Northern Virginia, the Charlottesville and Winchester areas also had unemployment rates of under 4 percent.

A breakdown shows:

Bristol: 4.8 percent, up from 4.7 percent.
Charlottesville: 3.6 percent, up from 3.4 percent.
Hampton Roads: 4.6 percent, unchanged.
Harrisonburg: 4.2 percent, up from 4 percent.
Lynchburg: 4.6 percent, up from 4.5 percent.
Northern Virginia: 3.5 percent, up from 3.4 percent.
New River Valley: 4.6 percent, up from 4.5 percent.
Richmond: 4.2 percent, up from 4.1 percent.
Roanoke: 4.1 percent, up from 3.9 percent.
Staunton-Waynesboro: 4.2 percent, up from 3.9 percent.
Winchester: 3.7 percent, up from 3.5 percent.