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Virginia's jobless rate falls to 7.1 percent Date published: 6/19/2010
BY BILL FREEHLING Virginia's unemployment rate fell slightly to 7.1 percent in May, the Virginia Employment Commission said yesterday. That seasonally adjusted rate was down from 7.2 percent in April but above the 6.8 percent rate from May 2009. Nonfarm employment increased by 36,300 jobs in Virginia in May, the third consecutive monthly increase. Nonfarm employment was down 3,300 jobs from May 2009. The average manufacturing production workweek in Virginia was 42.5 hours, 1.1 hours longer than April and 0.8 hours more than May 2009. A longer workweek is a sign of improving manufacturing demand. Virginia's jobless rate was still well below the national rate in May, which was 9.7 percent. The national rate declined from 9.9 percent in April but rose from 9.4 percent in May 2009. May was the first month since April 2006 in which a state other than Michigan had the nation's highest unemployment rate. That dubious distinction went to Nevada, whose jobless rate was 14 percent last month. Michigan had the second-highest jobless rate at 13.6 percent in May, followed by California and Rhode Island. North Dakota's 3.6 percent rate was the lowest. The Virginia Employment Commission is expected to release the May jobless rate for the Fredericksburg area June 30. The regional rate was 6.2 percent in April. Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
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