Danville area unemployment rises

By: GoDanRiver Staff | GoDanRiver.com
Published: September 01, 2010

Danville and Pittsylvania County unemployment rates rose from June to July and remain the same as a year ago, according to the latest release from the Virginia Employment Commission.

Danville unemployment rose from 13.5 to 14.1 percent and Danville metropolitan statistical area (Danville and Pittsylvania County) unemployment rose from 11.8 to 12.2 percent from June to July.

The number of unemployed in the Danville metro area only decreased by 34 from June to July, but decreased by 228 from a year ago.

The latest numbers may suggest people gave up looking for work as the civilian labor force declined by 2,038 from June to July and by 1,868 from a year ago. The number of employed decreased by 2,004 from June to July and by 1,640 from a year ago.

Danville still ranks as having the highest unemployment of all metropolitan statistical areas in the state.

These rates compare to Virginia unemployment at 7.1 percent and national unemployment at 9.7 percent.

These rates are seasonally unadjusted. Virginia Employment Commission compiles data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For more information, visit www.VirginiaLMI.com.

Area unemployment (July 2010, June 2010, July 2009)

Virginia 7.1%, 7.1%, 6.9%

Danville MSA 12.2%, 11.8%, 12.2%

Danville 14.1%, 13.5%, 14.1%

Pittsylvania County 10.9%, 10.7%, 10.9%

Martinsville city 20.6%, 20.2%, 21.5%

Henry County 14.0%, 13.7%, 15.2%

Halifax County 12.7%, 11.9%, 12.5%