The Fredericksburg-area unemployment rate fell below 6 percent for the first time this year in August.
The area's jobless rate was 5.7 percent in August, according to Virginia Employment Commission data released yesterday. The area comprises the city of Fredericksburg and Caroline, King George, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties.
That was the lowest area rate since December, when it was 5 percent. It was the second straight monthly decline (the rates were 6.3 percent in June and 6 percent in July).
The area rate was, however, above the 4.1 percent level from last August. It was also the highest jobless rate for August since 1992.
Stafford fared especially well, with a 4.9 percent jobless rate. Fauquier County had a 5 percent rate. Economists consider anything at or below 5 percent to be full employment. Eleven Virginia localities met that definition in August.
Virginia as a whole fared better in August. The state's seasonally adjusted jobless rate fell to 6.5 percent, down from 6.9 percent in July. The state had the fifth-lowest jobless rate in the United States that month. The national rate was 9.7 percent.
The bulk of the state's problems in August continued to be along the North Carolina border. Many of those manufacturing-dependent counties had double-digit unemployment, and Martinsville's rate was 20.8 percent.
The VEC noted that there were fewer new layoffs and factory furloughs in August, leading to a drop in unemployment claims. Construction employment added 1,800 jobs in the state in August, thanks in part to federal economic stimulus projects on military bases.
Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com
LOCALITY Aug. '09 July '09 Aug. '08 Fredericksburg 8.9% 9.1% 6.5% Stafford 4.9% 5.3% 3.7% Spotsylvania 5.1% 5.3% 3.7% Caroline 8.0% 8.0% 5.1% King George 7.2% 7.7% 5.4% Westmoreland 7.2% 7.4% 5.2% Orange 7.5% 7.6% 4.6% Fauquier 5.0% 5.4% 3.5% Culpeper 7.6% 8.0% 5.0% Louisa 7.9% 7.8% 4.6% |