Virginia unemployment rate drops; Northern Va. lowest in state

The Old Dominion’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate dropped from 4.6 percent in August to 4.2 percent in September.

The rate is up from September of last year, when there were 123,200 unemployed, or 3 percent of the population.

The national rate declined slightly from 6.1 percent, or 9.5 million unemployed, in August, to 6 percent, or 9.2 million unemployed, in September.

Alexandria, as well as Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties, were among the top 20 in employment rates in September out of the state’s 134 cities and counties. Arlington County had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.7 percent, and Martinsville had the highest at 12.3 percent, according to the report, which was released Friday.

Northern Virginia and Charlottesville were the two areas with the lowest unemployment rates in September, at 3.2 and 3.4 percent, respectively.

Northern Virginia consistently boasts the highest employment rates in the state because of government employment, professional business services and the higher education levels of residents, said William F. Mezger, chief economist with the Economic Information Services Division in the Virginia Employment Commission.

Mezger said the influx of employees to public school systems and colleges that were back in session last month was “enough to override the general trend” of unemployment the nation has seen.

“In a lot of rural communities, public schools [offer] the biggest blocks of employment,” he said.

Mezger added that the tightening may not cease for a few months.

“Most schools in Virginia usually don’t reach their full [employment levels] until November,” he said.

He did say, though, that the 4.6 percent level in August was a bit high.

“If anything, August was probably too high,” he said, calling it a “transition month” when many students quit summer jobs and go back to classes.

“By September, they’re back in college and the younger grades are back in school.”