State jobless rate highest since ‘03

By Cheryl Chumley

Published: September 4, 2008

Virginia's unemployment rate rose to a five-year high in July, from 4.2 percent to 4.4 percent, according to statistics just released from the commonwealth's Employment Commission.

"This was the highest unemployment rate recorded in Virginia in exactly five years, since a 4.4 percent rate also in July, 2003," the Virginia agency reported a week ago. "This July's 4.4 percent seasonally unadjusted jobless rate was still well below the U.S. seasonally unadjusted jobless rate for July 2008 of 6 percent."

Of the state's 134 jurisdictions, Arlington County touted the lowest rate, at 2.7 percent unemployment, and the city of Martinsville the highest, with 12.2 percent.

"Martinsville was the only jurisdiction to have a double-digit unemployment rate," VEC reported.

Nationwide, the number of unemployed in July stood at 9.4 million, or 6 percent. That's in comparison to 7.6 million, or 4.9 percent in July 2007. In June 2008, meanwhile, the national unemployment rate was 8.9 million, or 5.7 percent.

In Virginia, the breakdown is this: VEC shows 187,400, or 4.4 percent, were unemployed in July 2008; 127,400, or 3.1 percent, in July 2007; and 174,800, or 4.2 percent, in June 2008.

Northern Virginia, meanwhile, reported 50,480 unemployed in July of this year, compared to 33,400 a year earlier and 47,370 in June 2008. That translates into percentage figures of 3.4, then 2.3 and 3.2, in order.

The numbers reflect those who actually draw unemployment checks.

Prince William's unemployment is reportedly on the increase. In July 2007, the figure stood at 2.5 percent. By June 2008, the level rose to 3.5 percent, and a month later, to 3.7percent.

Fairfax County, by comparison, saw its 2.2 percent unemployment statistic in July 2007 rise to 3.1 percent by June of 2008, and 3.2 percent a month later. And in Loudoun County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, it was more of the same.

Loudoun County's was 2.1 percent in July, 2007; 3.2 percent in June 2008; and 3.3 percent in July 2008.

Manassas was 2.7 percent in July 2007; 4.1 percent in June, 2008; and 4.3 percent the following month.

Manassas Park remained unchanged at 4.2 percent in both June and July 2008. But in July 2007, unemployment in the city was 2.2 percent.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.