The Fredericksburg region's jobless rate was largely unchanged in May from the month before, but it was well below the figure from the year before.
The George Washington Regional Commission area had a 5.8 percent jobless rate in May, according to figures released yesterday by the Virginia Employment Commission.
That was up from 5.6 percent in April but down from 6.4 percent in May 2010. All individual area localities had lower jobless rates from the year before.
The GWRC comprises Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Stafford and Spotsylvania. Its 10-year average jobless rate is 3.8 percent.
The region's jobless rate was slightly better than Virginia's 6 percent rate in May. Virginia, which CNBC this week ranked as the best state in the U.S. for business, had the 10th-lowest jobless rate in May. The national rate was 8.7 percent.
None of the figures are adjusted for seasonal factors.
Fauquier County's 4.6 percent rate in May was the best in the region and tied for sixth-lowest in the state (Arlington was lowest at 3.7 percent). Stafford and Spotsylvania both were in the top 20 with jobless rates of 5.1 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively.
Fredericksburg's 8.9 percent rate was 119th out of 134 Virginia localities. But the city's rate was down from 9.3 percent in April.
Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com
LOCALITY
May '11
April '11
May '10
Fredericksburg
8.9%
9.3%
9.1%
Stafford
5.1%
4.9%
5.8%
Spotsylvania
5.2%
5.1%
5.9%
Caroline
7.6%
7.4%
8.4%
King George
7.0%
6.7%
7.9%
Westmoreland
6.5%
6.6%
7.3%
Orange
6.5%
6.3%
7.3%
Fauquier
4.6%
4.4%
5.6%
Culpeper
6.3%
6.3%
7.8%
Louisa
6.2%
6.3%
7.6%