The Virginian-Pilot
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The region's unemployment rate rose to 7.1 percent in December from 6.7 percent in November, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Wednesday. The numbers were not adjusted for seasonal factors.
The statewide jobless rate also went up four-tenths of a percentage point, to 6.1 percent in December from 5.7 percent.
Even so, Virginia's jobless rate remains lower than a year ago, when it was 6.4 percent. In Hampton Roads, however, last month's unemployment rate was slightly higher than the 7 percent rate reported in December 2010.
Ann Lang, senior economist at the Virginia Employment Commission, noted that numbers fluctuate month to month. For example, the area's jobless rate in November fell half a percentage point from the 7.2 percent rate it reported in November 2010.
"You definitely don't want to look at one month and say that's it all gloom and doom," Lang said. "I think the labor market is struggling in the area, and you'll probably see some variability."
Peter Shaw, a professor of business management and administration at Tidewater Community College, agreed. "I've never been a believer that one month's data is a trend," he said. "I'm looking at more long-term trends."
He attributed the local downturn in December to a combination of factors, including a loss of government jobs, an increase in the number of out-of-work people returning to the job market and the layoffs of some part-time school workers for the winter break.
The employment numbers for Hampton Roads in December were dragged down in part by Currituck County in North Carolina. Currituck's unemployment rate rose more than 2 percentage points, to 9.5 percent from 7.2 percent in November.
That's not unusual, said Peter Bishop, the county's director of economic development. In the past six years, he said, Currituck's jobless rate has risen between 1-1/2 and 2-1/2 percentage points from November to December, mostly because of a gradual drop in tourism-related jobs during the winter.
"We're not necessarily comfortable with it, but these are jobs that we're losing," he said. Usually, employment begins to pick up in February or March in Currituck.
Among South Hampton Roads cities, jobless rates in December ranged from 6.1 percent in Virginia Beach to 8.8 percent in Norfolk and Portsmouth. Only Chesapeake reduced its unemployment rate since the previous year - to 6.4 percent from 6.6 percent in December 2010.
The region's jobless rate remained below the national average. The U.S. unemployment rate without seasonal adjustments was 8.3 percent in December - up from 8.2 percent in November, but significantly down from 9.1 percent a year ago.
Philip Walzer, 757-222-3864, phil.walzer@pilotonline.com
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the
true unemployment numbers and economic woes would cause panic, like it or not the area fairs better than some because of the military, local gov should concentrate on keeping the unemployed already here employed, road/bridge repairs, police/fireman, teachers raises, not wasting tax$ on pet projects, developers/consulting firms should not recieve a nickel until the repairs are made and economy is on the upswing, doesn't appear to be anytime soon
don't forget this one lurking in the shadows
how are them local unemployment numbers doing now Chris. has that train left yet? Hampton Roads leaders worry about the economic downside of the relocation. Losing a carrier would cost Tidewater 6,000 jobs and $425 million in annual revenue, according to estimates by economists. you better hope this don't happen
The train is leaving the station
GDP has been growing since 2009.
The stock market has doubled since 2009.
Americans net worth is up $9 trillion dollars since 2009.
3.2 million private sector jobs have been created since 2009.
Auto sales are up.
Retail sales are up.
Home sales are up.
Unemployment is down.
The train is leaving the station...
the train is not going anywhere
the train better stay parked in the station.
American airlines to lay off 13,000
VA port authority to lay off 11 police
Chesapeake city iced 26 open jobs
VA bch schools to lay off 640 of it's newest teachers
Norfolk to lay off 1291 teachers
big cuts coming to the military
these are just a few that will directly affect the Virginia area.
look up the seven ways that inflation will increase in 2012
take a good look all over the world you will see these numbers you post don't add up.it's also an election year so don't expect any of our fearless leaders to get anything good accomplished.your just not seeing the whole picture.
#30
-Stock market value 1/20/09 = 7949.17, today ~ 12,716.46 = not doubled
-record numbers sinking towards poverty.
-Net worth for households and non-profit groups decreased by $2.45T to $57.4T 3rd Qtr
-household assets at the end of 2008 = $65.7T, today = $57.4T
-14% slump in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the worst quarter since 2008
-"Americans bought slightly more new homes in November, but 2011 will likely end up as the worst year for sales in history”
-"The value of household real estate decreased by $98.3 billion in the third quarter after dropping by $37 billion in the previous three months”
-unemployment is up since Obama took office and spent over $1T in stimulus money
-Loss of our AAA credit rating
The train has left already..
Well, those in power..
always fudge the numbers if they can when it comes to unemployment. Just this week, the CBO released a report telling us that 'real unemployment' is over 10%. That is in sharp contrast to what the Obama admin and their media abettors have been putting out. As we all know, anyone who 'gives up' looking for employment is automatically dropped from all such evaluating criteria, and the same goes for those who have maxed out on their benefits. But I expect the unemployment rate to be down to about 3% or so by the time the election comes around, per the Obama administration. It won't be true, but that's what will be reported. Truth? We don't need no stinking truth!
Not true
Those that "max out benefits" are not even part of the unemployment rate calculation. Every time the Pilot reports the rates, there are uninformed comments on how the rates are calculated.
You are right..
and I gladly take the hit for the false info. Based on how the government calculates unemployment rates, we really have no idea on that the status is of those who maxed on their benefits. If any of them quit looking, they are considered out of the workforce. If they haven't, then they're till in.
something is wrong with these numbers
OK.now count all the people that have used up all their benefits.those that have falling off the radar.those who can not file.the self employed that have lost their business. the people that have left the state still searching for work.etc.etc. and then give us the real count.this area has been going down hill fast for several years now.and all the VEC and the Governor can do is turn a blind eye to it.the Governor has along way to go to get this area back to the way it use to be.just go out on the street and take a real good look.there is something very wrong with the calculations being used to determine the real unemployment and jobless rates in Hampton roads and the entire state.