BY BILL FREEHLING
Stafford, Spotsylvania and Fauquier counties were among just 19 Virginia localities with jobless rates under 5 percent in September, according to Virginia Employment Commission data released Tuesday.
Fauquier's 4.5 percent rate was tied for sixth-lowest of Virginia's 134 localities. Stafford (4.6 percent) and Spotsylvania (4.7 percent) weren't far behind. Arlington, at 3.5 percent, had the best rate in Virginia for September.
The Fredericksburg region had a 5.2 percent jobless rate in September, down from 6 percent in September 2011. The local August rate was also 5.2 percent.
The region includes the city and Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George and Stafford counties.
As usual, the local area had a lower jobless rate than the state as a whole in September. Virginia's jobless rate was 5.6 percent last month.
That tied with Hawaii for 13th-best in the country. North Dakota, at 2.4 percent, had the lowest rate, while Nevada's 11.2 percent rate was the nation's highest.
Nationwide, the jobless rate was 7.6 percent last month. None of the figures has been adjusted for seasonal factors.
The city of Fredericksburg's 8.2 percent rate was the region's highest in September, but it was down from 9.5 percent a year ago. Martinsville had the state's highest jobless rate at 14.9 percent.
Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com
LOCALITY
Sept. '12
Aug. '12
Sept. '11
Fredericksburg
8.2%
8.3%
9.5%
Stafford
4.6%
4.6%
5.3%
Spotsylvania
4.7%
4.7%
5.4%
Caroline
6.3%
6.8%
7.7%
King George
6.5%
6.7%
7.2%
Westmoreland
6.9%
7.1%
7.3%
Orange
6.1%
6.3%
7.3%
Fauquier
4.5%
4.5%
4.9%
Culpeper
6.0%
6.2%
6.8%
Louisa
6.2%
6.5%
6.9%