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There were 6,190 people out of work in the Danville/Pittsylvania County area in November, as the jobless rate jumped from 9.7 percent in October to 11.8 percent. That figure is more than double the November 2007 rate of 5.3 percent, when 2,890 people were out of work.
The city had the second-highest unemployment rate in the state at 14.4 percent, up from 11.7 in October and the November 2007 rate of 5.6 percent.
In Pittsylvania County, the rate was 10.1 percent, up from 8.4 in October and 5.2 percent in November 2007.
Bill Mezger, chief economist for the Virginia Employment Commission, said the increases in the Danville/Pittsylvania County area are a reflection of temporary furloughs in the manufacturing sector.
“Everybody has gone up in November because business conditions are sluggish,” Mezger said. “In Danville the last couple of months, manufacturers scheduled furloughs to curtail production until inventory could be sold off.”
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., the city’s largest employer, is among the manufacturers implementing recent furloughs.
Martinsville continues to have the state’s highest unemployment rate, at 14.9 percent, with 794 people unemployed. That figure is up from 12.7 percent in October and 8.5 percent in November 2007.
Mezger said Martinsville’s situation is different than the Danville/Pittsylvania County area because its increased rate is not due to temporary furloughs.
“Martinsville had permanent layoffs, particularly in the furniture industry, earlier in the year, which is reflected in their rate,” he said.
Henry County’s jobless rate was 9.6 percent, compared to 8.5 percent in October. A year ago, the rate was 6 percent.
Halifax County also saw an increase in the jobless rate, moving to 7.9 percent from 7.2 percent in October. A year ago, the rate was 5.7 percent.
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Reader Reactions
Kilo, I am not whining; all I did was say don’t despair, remember the promises. Have you forgotten how we are going to see “change” and everyone is going to be happy as PROMISED by the new president for the whole country and Perriello for us here in Southside?
Of course Mr. Obama is already suffering from amnesia as my $1000 check is now $500 and the day after the election and numerous times since he has said things may not be as easy to fix as he promised. Just who makes excuses weeks before even being sworn in? HMMM, maybe someone that never meant what he said in the first place, maybe someone that would lie to the voters, maybe someone that has no idea what he can and cannot accomplish so you just say what people want to hear???
David, the helping those on Welfare was one promise I am sure he will try to keep. And better yet, with his little knowledge of how to correct anything, more will see themselves on Welfare so his promises to help more people than were being helped will be true!
Well, I see the E is still whining about the November elections. Gonna be a bi*ch for “E” the next 4 years of the new president. ROFL
Where to start..I work for goodyear..we have been having weeks..plus the rumor now is there will be a layoff in march or april..i know i will lose my job..if goodyear shuts down..i guess danville will be the next to leave town.hate to say it like that
DON’T worry folks! Democrats are in office and the problem will be no longer! REMEMBER all that Perriello and Obama said during their campaigns; we will all have jobs and be rich in the next couple of months, there will be no more drugs, we will all get that $1000 check in the mail promised by Mr. Obama, and we will live happily everafter.
You can roll that tired old chestnut about drugs being the cause, but that doesn’t exactly jibe with the truth. The truth is that Danville HAD a vibrant workforce and fairly high employment before our government decided to allow corporations to export all the jobs overseas. Those people who were employed, who now are not working, or all unemployed, are not on drugs. The people on drugs are the ones who aren’t working or have to pretend to seek a job to keep their benefits. Most decent folks just want a way to keep a roof over their heads. Stop blaming the workforce. There is plenty of work to be done, unfortunately it’s being done in China. Our federal government, much like our local one is under the delusion that service industry and retail jobs can sustain us. Not true. Only by making things can our economy thrive, otherwise, third world status here we come…in fact, in some parts of Danville…here we is!
Drug Dealers!
About 6 weeks ago, I was told by an employee of Swedwood that the company was still in need of about 100 workers. Unfortunately, the company was having a heck of a time finding folks who could pass the required drug test. So, until someone can find a solution to that, we probably will be unable to attract much more than minimum wage job opportunities, and we will continue to have high unemployment. With our workforce, who would want to locate here?
Come on folks! We can be number one if we put our minds to it! First, let’s bribe a bunch more stores into coming here using taxpayer money, we still don’t have a Macy’s or a Best Buy! Second, let’s implode all the buildings in town that are more than 20 years old, nobody wants to see those old wrecks! (Be sure to leave the rubble lying around for months afterward to emphasize our commitment to urban renewal!) Third, approve uranium mining so that people will flock here to gaze with wonder at the glowing piles of tailings and the radiative cesspool that it will create! Nothing draws in the shoppers like the promise of lung cancer and birth defects! DANVILLE CAN will take on a whole new meaning and those barrels of radioactive poison pile up for the next 30 years! YeeHaw!
Bring back Ron Bunch of Nothing to implement a plan like a retail hub. Oh wait, that was his plan. Instead of thinking Big Box Stores the City needs to start thinking Out of the Box.
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