Nine of Virginia’s 11 metropolitan areas had unemployment drop in April — only Bristol and Danville saw it rise (by 0.7 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively).
Statewide, Virginia had 5.0 percent unemployment, down from 5.2 percent in March — the national rate was 7.1 percent. (Of course, keep in mind that actual unemployment is still higher — closer to 9 percent — thanks to the dopey way the figure is calculated.)
Northern Virginia had the lowest rate: 3.9 percent. Here are some of the other areas:
- Charlottesville: 4.1 percent in April, down from 4.5 percent the month before.
- Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford: 5.2 percent, down from 5.6 percent;
- Hampton Roads: 5.4 percent, down from 5.6 percent;
- Harrisonburg: 4.6 percent, down from 4.9 percent;
- Lynchburg: 5.6 percent, down from 5.8 percent;
- Richmond: 5.4 percent, down from 5.6 percent;
- Roanoke: 5.3 percent, down from 5.4 percent;
- Winchester: 4.7 percent, down from 4.8 percent.
