July jobless rates fell in Virginia metro areas

Published September 1, 2015 by Robert Powell, III

Unemployment rates fell in Virginia’s metropolitan areas in July, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.

The VEC reported on Tuesday that jobless rates in the 11 metro areas decreased by between one-tenth of a percentage point to half a point during the month.

All of the metro area rates were lower than 5.4 percent in July. By contrast, the highest rate in June was 5.8 percent.

The unemployment number are not seasonally adjusted, meaning they do not take into account seasonal fluctuations in the labor market.

The comparable July figures for Virginia and the U.S. during July were 4.7 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively.

Northern Virginia continued to record the lowest unemployment figure, 3.8 percent in July.

Four other metro areas — Charlottesville, Roanoke, Staunton-Waynesboro and Winchester — had rates of under 5 percent.

Bristol and Lynchburg tied for the highest jobless rate, 5.3 percent.

A rundown on the 11 metro areas shows:

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford: 5.1 percent in July, down from 5.6 percent in June.
Bristol: 5.3 percent, down from 5.4 percent.
Charlottesville: 4.3 percent, down from 4.6 percent.
Hampton Roads: 5.2 percent, down from 5.5 percent.
Harrisonburg: 5 percent, down from 5.5 percent.
Lynchburg: 5.3 percent, down from 5.8 percent.
Northern Virginia: 3.8 percent, down from 4.1 percent.
Richmond: 5.1 percent, down from 5.3 percent.
Roanoke: 4.8 percent, down from 5.1 percent.
Staunton-Waynesboro: 4.5 percent, down from 4.8 percent.
Winchester: 4.1 percent, down from 4.5 percent.