Jobless rate in Central Va. mostly steady

Unemployment in the Charlottesville metropolitan area remained at 5.5 percent in September while the rate in the city itself dropped by seven-tenths of a percent, according to Virginia Employment Commission figures.

The Charlottesville metro area’s figures were second best in the state, behind the 4.9 percent rate for Northern Virginia, said William F. Mezger, chief economist for the commission’s economic information services division.

Harrisonburg was third with a 5.7 unemployment rate, he said.

Statewide unemployment figures rose from 6.5 percent in August to 6.6 percent in September, according to VEC figures. “Almost all of that increase can be attributed to students returning to schools and looking for part-time employment,” Mezger said.

The national unemployment rate dropped from 9.6 percent in August to 9.5 percent for September, figures show.

“The Charlottesville area’s rate is the state’s second-best,” Mezger said. “A 5 percent unemployment rate is being considered full employment so the area has a lot going for it.”

The Danville metro area had an 11.4 percent unemployment rate in September, down from 12.4 percent the previous month, but still the state’s highest rate for joblessness.

According to VEC figures, Charlottesville’s unemployment dropped from 6.9 percent in August to 6.2 percent in September. That figure is still higher than the 3.9 percent unemployment rate the city posted in September 2008.

Most Central Virginia communities posted slight increases in unemployment except for the city and Buckingham County. Buck-ingham dropped from the region’s leading 8 percent unemployment in August to 7.8 percent in September. The drop made Louisa County the unemployment leader for September with an 8.1 percent rate, three-tenths higher than August’s 7.8 percent.

Orange County’s 7.6 percent rate, up from 7.5 percent in August, made the community the region’s third highest for unemployment.

Albemarle County’s rate rose from 4.9 percent in August to 5 percent; Fluvanna and Greene counties rose from 5.7 percent to 5.8 percent; Madison County rose from 5.9 percent to 6 percent; and Nelson County from 5.8 percent to 6.2 percent.