Metro-area unemployment rates show little change

Published August 31, 2016 by Robert Powell, III

Unemployment rates in Virginia’s metro areas remained largely unchanged in July.

In six of the commonwealth’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), jobless rates did not budge from June.

In four other MSAs, rates rose slightly, by one-tenth of a percentage point in each case.

The New River Valley (Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford) was the only area to see its rate drop, again by one-tenth of a percentage point

Five metro areas had unemployment rates of less than 4 percent in July, with Northern Virginia leading the pack at 3.3 percent.

No MSA had a rate above 4.8 percent, the number recorded in the Bristol area.

A breakdown shows:

Bristol: 4.8 percent in July, up from 4.7 percent in June.
Charlottesville: 3.6 percent , unchanged.
Hampton Roads: 4.6 percent, up from 4.5 percent.
Harrisonburg: 4.4 percent, unchanged.
Lynchburg: 4.7 percent, unchanged.
New River Valley: 4.6 percent, down from 4.7 percent.
Northern Virginia: 3.3 percent, up from 3.2 percent.
Richmond: 4.1 percent, up from 4 percent.
Roanoke: 3.9 percent, unchanged.
Staunton-Waynesboro: 3.7 percent, unchanged.
Winchester: 3.5 percent, unchanged.