Business & Tech

Virginia Jobless Rate Hits 4-Year Low

The Commonwealth's unemployment rate fell to 5.2 percent in April 2013, the lowest since 2008. But uncertainty around sequestration could slow job growth in coming months.

Virginia’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 percent in April, the lowest it’s been in more than four years.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports the rate is down from 5.3 percent in March and 5.9 percent in April 2012. It is the Commonwealth’s lowest since the 4.9 percent rate in November 2008.

Virginia’s rate is well below the national average of 7.5 percent in April. But in Fairfax County, residents enjoy an even lower unemployment rate: In March, Fairfax County had a jobless rate of 3.7 percent, according to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA).

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The FCEDA has from 27 different companies to the county during the first quarter of 2013.

Salient Federal Solutions, which provides information technology support to government and commercial customers, created the most opportunity countywide, adding 530 jobs in Fairfax.

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Virginia added a net total of more than 12,000 jobs in April, according to the Times-Dispatch, for a total of 3.76 million jobs. That’s up from a March decline of about 7,400 jobs.

But in Fairfax the number of new jobs was still down from the first quarter of 2012, when the FCEDA worked with 46 different businesses to bring in nearly 2,000 jobs.

Recent outlook has been good, but FCEDA President and CEO Jerry Gordon said last month the continuing uncertainty around sequestration could have far-reaching effects, Gordon said.

“All that trickles down,” he told Patch. “If people are being furloughed, or if they’re afraid they’re going to be furloughed or lose their jobs or contracts, they’re not spending money. Consumer confidence indices are down. I think jobs are slowing down across the board.”

Are you confident jobless rates will continue to improve? Tell us in the comments.


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