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Unemployment data for September Date published: 11/4/2010
BY BILL FREEHLING The Fredericksburg regional unemployment rate fell to 5.9 percent in September, the lowest it's been thus far in 2010. The Virginia Employment Commission, which issued the report yesterday, cautioned in its monthly analysis that the rate typically drops in September as schools return to session. The local figures aren't adjusted for seasonal factors. Still, the jobless rates for most area localities were lower than they were in September 2009. The regional rate at that time last year was 6 percent. It was 6.3 percent this past August. The region comprises the city and Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties. The region's jobless rate remains one of the lowest in the state. Virginia's jobless rate was 6.5 percent in September. The national rate was 9.2 percent. Fauquier, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties all had among the 15th-best rates in the state in September. Still, the region's jobless rate for September was far above the 10-year average of 3.3 percent, according to VEC data. Despite the higher-than-average rate, there are hundreds of jobs currently available in the Fredericksburg region, according to VEC data. The U.S. Navy, Mary Washington Healthcare, Food Lion and McDonald's are listed among the employers with the most jobs available. Ann Lang, senior economist for the VEC, explains that many of the available jobs require certain skill sets not possessed by all applicants. Others are out of reach for job seekers because the commute isn't feasible. She said state work-force centers and community colleges are working to get job seekers the right skills. As one example of this trend, Rosner Auto Group President Clay Huber said his company wasn't overwhelmed with applicants to fill the jobs available at the company's recently opened used-car operation near the Spotsylvania County-Fredericksburg line. He said most of the new jobs required a specific skill set--in this case knowledge of servicing cars. Had the jobs been more administrative, he thinks there would been more applications. Go to the Business Browser blog on fredericksburg .com for a list of the local employers with numerous jobs available, and to see historical unemployment data for the region. Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
Date published: 11/4/2010
Precisely the problem in this area-the jobs that are available are often low paying. I don't know that I buy the "lack of skill set" argument. I work in Northern Virginia because there isn't anything available in this area for my skills and experience. To work in this area would mean taking a job far beneath my skill and experience level and working for a fraction of what I can get in NOVA. Most people I know that work in NOVA and DC and live here are in the same boat. This area needs more GOOD jobs.
see Republicans take over Congress and the next day the unemployment rate goes down.
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