BY BILL FREEHLING

The local jobless rate in June was higher than it was in May, but it was down from June 2010.

The unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in the Fredericksburg area in June, according to data released yesterday by the Virginia Employment Commission. It was 5.7 percent in May and 6.6 percent in June 2010.

The Fredericksburg area comprises the city and Caroline, King George, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties.

The region's jobless rate continued to best the statewide rate, which was 6.3 percent in June and itself ranked ninth nationwide. The national rate was 9.3 percent. None of the figures have been adjusted for seasonal factors.

Other than the city of Fredericksburg, all area localities had a lower rate from the year prior but a higher one from May.

The city's 10.3 percent rate was higher than it was in May or June 2010. Just nine localities in Virginia--Martinsville, Williamsburg, Petersburg, Emporia, Danville, Lexington, Franklin, Hopewell and Henry County--had higher rates in June.

Stafford and Spotsylvania brought down the region's average. The area's two most populous counties had jobless rates that ranked in the top 20 of the state's 134 localities. Fauquier County fared even better, finishing tied for seventh in the state with a 5 percent rate.

As usual, Arlington County fared best among all Virginia localities in June with a 3.9 percent jobless rate. Arlington was followed by Loudoun, Fairfax and Alexandria.

Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com