The Virginian-Pilot
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The unemployment rate for Hampton Roads fell to 6.7 percent in November, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Wednesday. It was the second consecutive monthly decline in the local jobless rate.
The area's unemployment rate had been 7.3 percent in September and 7.0 percent in October. The numbers are not adjusted for seasonal factors.
The jobless rate for Hampton Roads was at its lowest level since May, when it was 6.6 percent.
"The news is good, but the news has to be taken into perspective," said David Garraty, a professor of management, business and economics at Virginia Wesleyan College. "When you compare it to last year or last month, certainly the direction is positive."
However, the local jobless rate was more than double what it was in November 2007 - 3.2 percent - when the region's economy was at its most recent peak, he said.
"We're in our fourth year of recovery, quote unquote. Yet we're still that far behind where we were.
"We still have a long ways to go," Garraty said.
In South Hampton Roads, the rates in November ranged from 8.4 percent for Norfolk and Portsmouth to 5.8 percent for Virginia Beach. Portsmouth recorded the sharpest drop since September, when the unemployment rate was 9.3 percent.
Williamsburg remained the hardest-hit locality, with a 14.7 percent jobless rate in November. That was higher than its rates for the previous month - 14.3 percent - and a year ago - 14.5 percent.
Statewide figures show a significant drop of more than 10,000 jobs in November in leisure and hospitality, a mainstay for Williamsburg. But even in the prime tourist season, Williamsburg has lagged behind other destinations, Garraty said. "That predates the recession."
The regional jobless rate in November was 1 percentage point above the statewide average of 5.7 percent. But it was below the seasonally unadjusted average for the nation - 8.2 percent.
The U.S. unemployment rate for December will be released Friday. The Virginia Employment Commission will release statewide figures for December on Jan. 24.
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I would be willing this has
I would be willing this has not been adjusted for people who have just quit looking for work and are no longer able to collect unemployment. Amazing how people can throw out numbers to make it seem like things are getting betterl
Unemployment falling
because folks are no longer looking and leaving here for better markets to fill the vacuum.
21 months of private sector job growth
The economy has been growing for two years, and we have had 21 months of private sector job growth. The unemployment rate has gone from 10.1% to 8.6% and will go down further next year. But the Republicans will then cook up another phony "debt crisis" to hurt America's credit rating, so they can win the next election. But it won't work. The economy is coming back, and there is nothing that the Republicans in Congress can do to stop it.
The spin master
"The unemployment rate has gone from 10.1% to 8.6%"
8.6 percent is still higher than when Obama took office.
So what?
Bush destroyed the economy, Obama rescued it. The stimulus saved us from another Great Depression. Don't try to rewrite history. It won't work.
"Don't try to rewrite history"
You are making me fall off my chair laughing C33. Anyone that has seen your numerous reposting of distorted facts can see that if anyone is trying to rewrite history, you are leading the pack. You say that the stock market "has doubled since 2009" in your praise of Obama except when he took office, the stock market was over 8K. You say unemployment is down from 10.1% as if it started at that level. I could go on, but it is plainly evident that you are the person trying to rewrite the history books. You might be taken more seriously if you could at least make some effort at being honest.
HAHAHAHA!!! Ohhh mannn. To
HAHAHAHA!!! Ohhh mannn. To funny. Everything Obama has done has failed. Obama-care, shovel ready, cash for clunkers.... all failed. Drilling off the east coast to create thousands of jobs, nahh, we don't need that.
Bulletin: Man has landed on the moon
It's January 4. You're telling us
the rate for November. That's like
warning everyone to take cover from
Hurricane Irene...5 months later.
It's the hi-tech age...if we can read
news instantly, surely they can compute
how many people are out of work in a day.
Where did this story go?
Good news doesnt last here?
Fickle numbers
Now that the post holiday retail layoffs have begun that number will likely increase. Also, this figure doesn't count the many who've been relegated to long term unemployment due to a failing economy and successful attempts by the right to block anything that would really improve it.