The latest numbers available show significant improvement in the rate of unemployment in the Danville metro area, with the rate falling to 6.7 percent in November, down from 7.2 percent in October.
The rate of 6.7 percent nearly matched the national rate of 6.6 percent for November. Virginia’s November jobless rate was 5 percent.
These figures do not reflect adjustments for seasonal factors.
In further comparison, the Danville area’s rate of 6.7 percent was down a full percentage point from the same month in the previous year. The rate was 7.7 percent in November of 2012. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the Danville area picked up about 500 jobs in the year-to-year period.
The Danville metro area includes the city of Danville and Pittsylvania County. Both localities saw month-to-month and year-to-year improvements.
In Danville, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 1,476 city residents were unemployed in November for a rate of 7.8 percent. The October rate was 8.6 percent. The November 2012 rate was 9.4 percent.
In Pittsylvania County, 1,927 county residents were unemployed in November for a rate of 6 percent. The October rate was 6.3 percent. The November 2012 rate was 6.7 percent.
Month-to-month unemployment rates fell in all of Virginia’s metro areas during November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The metro jobless rates, which are not adjusted for seasonal factors, ranged from 4 percent in Northern Virginia to 6.7 percent in the Danville area.
The biggest decline in the unemployment rate, from October to November, was a 1.8 percentage-point drop in the Bristol area. The smallest decline was seen in Richmond and Bristol areas, four tenths of a percentage point.
A breakdown shows:
• Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford area: 5.2 percent in November, down from 5.8 percent in October.
• Charlottesville area: 4.1 percent, down from 4.6 percent
• Danville area: 6.7 percent, down from 7.2 percent
• Hampton Roads: 5.5 percent, down from 6 percent
• Harrisonburg area: 4.7 percent, down from 5.3 percent
• Bristol area: 6.3 percent, down from 8.1 percent
• Lynchburg area: 5.5 percent, down from 6.1 percent
• Northern Virginia: 4 percent, down from 4.6 percent
• Richmond area: 5.4 percent, down from 5.8 percent
• Roanoke area: 5.1 percent, down from 5.6 percent
• Winchester area: 4.5 percent, down from 4.9 percent
In addition to the 11 metro areas, unemployment rates in three additional “micropolitan” areas were:
• Culpeper area: 5.2 percent, down from 5.8 percent
• Martinsville area: 8.6 percent, down from 8.8 percent
• Staunton-Waynesboro area: 4.9 percent, down from 5.2 percent.