Jobless rates climb in Virginia metro areas

Unemployment rates rose in Virginia’s urban areas in May.

The Virginia Employment Commission reported Tuesday that jobless rates in the commonwealth’s 11 metro area all increased during May, from half a percentage point in the Winchester area to 1.3 points in the Harrisonburg region.

Northern Virginia had the lowest rate in May, 4.4 percent, up six tenths of a percentage point from April.

Following behind NOVA were the Charlottesville and Winchester areas, both with rates of 4.7 percent.

The numbers reported by the VEC are not adjusted for seasonal fluctuations.

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Virginia in May was 5.4 percent, up from 4.7 percent in April.

The comparable national jobless rate for May was 6.1 percent, up from 5.9 percent in April.

Here is a rundown of the metro area unemployment numbers:

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford: 5.8 percent in May, up from 4.6 percent in April.
Bristol:  6.3 percent, up from 5.9 percent.
Charlottesville: 4.7 percent , up from 3.7 percent.
Danville: 7.7 percent, up from 6.9 percent
Hampton Roads: 5.8 percent, up from 5.1 percent.
Harrisonburg: 5.4 percent, up from 4.1 percent.
Lynchburg: 6.2 percent, up from 5.2 percent.
Northern Virginia: 4.4 percent, up from 3.8 percent.
Richmond: 5.6 percent, up from 5 percent.
Roanoke: 5.5 percent, up from 4.8 percent.
Winchester: 4.7 percent, up from 4.2 percent.