In May 2008, Virginia’s unemployment rate was 3.6%. As of May 31, 2009, the state’s unemployment rate had doubled to 7%. According to the Virginia Employment Commission, June’s unemployment rate is LIKELY to be higher. “With the recession, this is the worst summer job market in nearly THREE DECADES”, reported the VEC. And, although stimulus money is starting to create jobs (WHERE? NOW? NOT HARDLY!!!), job losses continue for auto industry-related suppliers and dealers, the VEC said, and will probably (PROBABLY?)“create additional unemployment for several more months.”
LOCALITY MAY 2008 MAY 2009
UNITED STATES 5.2% 9.1%
VIRGINIA 3.6% 7%
Alleghany County****** 4.8% 10.5%
Bedford 5% 9.6%
Bedford County 3.2% 6.7%
Blacksburg Metro 3.9% 8.9%
Botetourt County 2.9% 6.7%
Buena Vista 4.9% 7.7%
Charlottesville Metro 3% 5.9%
Craig County 4% 7.6%
Danville Metro *** #3 6.8% 13%
Floyd County 3.6% 7.7%
Franklin County 4.6% 8.5%
Giles County 4.1% 9.6%
Harrisonburg Metro 3.5% 6.5%
Henry County** #2 7.4% 15.2%
Lexington 5.2% 9.4%
Martinsville* #1 10.4% 21.9%
Montgomery County 3.4% 7.1%
Norfolk/Va.Beach/Newport
News 3.8% 7.0%
Northern VA Metro 2.8% 5.3%
Patrick County #4* 5.4% 12.6%
Pulaski County 4.6% 12.4%
Radford 4.7% 9.6%
Richmond Metro 3.9% 8.1%
Roanoke 4.3% 9.2%
Roanoke County 3% 6.1%
Roanoke Metro 3.7% 7.5%
Rockbridge County 3.5% 6.7%
Salem 3.2% 6.4%
Winchester Metro 3.9% 4.2%
(The Northern VA Metro area consists of the cities/towns of Alexandria, Manassas, Falls Church, Woodbridge, Reston, Annandale, Fairfax, and Arlington.)
(The Danville Metro area consists of the towns of Danville, Gretna, and Chatham in addition to the county of Pittsylvania.)
- This an excerpt from an article in the Wednesday, July 1st edition of THE ROANOKE TIMES as written by Duncan Adams (duncan.adams@roanoke.com)
A word about the unemployment rate in Patrick County – The Martinsville Bulletin rates them as the #6 area in unemployment but according to the above figures, it appears to me they rank 4th.
ALL CAPITALS and asterisks ARE MINE!!!!!!
