Unemployment falls in Virginia metro areas

Unemployment fell in all of Virginia’s metro areas during February.

The Virginia Employment Commission reported on Wednesday that the unemployment rates in the commonwealth’s 11 metropolitan statistical areas declined to less than 4 percent during the month.

Rates ranged from 2.7 percent in Northern Virginia to 3.9 percent in Lynchburg.

The biggest decline occurred in the New River Valley, down six-tenths of a percentage point from January.

The VEC figures were not seasonally adjusted, meaning they do not take into account seasonal fluctuations in the job market.

A breakdown of the numbers shows:

Bristol: 3.7 percent in February, down from 4.1 percent in January.
Charlottesville: 2.9 percent, down from 3.4 percent.
Hampton Roads: 3.6 percent, down from 4 percent.
Harrisonburg: 3.2 percent, down from 3.5 percent.
Lynchburg: 3.9 percent, down from 4.4 percent.
New River Valley: 3.4 percent, down from 4 percent.
Northern Virginia: 2.7 percent, down from 3 percent.
Richmond: 3.5 percent, down from 3.8 percent.
Roanoke: 3.4 percent, down from 3.7 percent.
Staunton-Waynesboro: 3.2 percent, down from 3.7 percent.
Winchester: 3.1 percent, down from 3.2 percent.