Jobless rate sees modest rise

By Bernard Baker

Published: April 30, 2008

Unemployment in Danville rose slightly in March due mostly to furloughs and Easter layoffs, according to reports from the Virginia Employment Commission.

The Danville area’s jobless rate went up from 7.3 to 7.4 percent in March, William Mezger, the Virginia Employment Commission’s chief economist, said Wednesday. A year ago, the rate was 6.5 percent.

Danville saw unemployment rise from 8.6 percent in February to 9 percent in March. The number of unemployed in Danville was at 3,840 people. A year ago, the rate was 8.2 percent.

“That doesn’t mean much,” Mezger said.

Unemployment in Martinsville improved slightly from February to March.

In March, the rate was 11.7 percent, compared to 12.1 percent in February. This time last year, the Martinsville unemployment rate was 7.4 percent.

Mezger said Martinsville had the highest unemployment rate in the state and continues to feel the brunt of layoffs from about a year ago.

Henry County’s unemployment rate dropped from 8 percent in February to 7.9 percent in March. A year ago, it was 4.9 percent.

There was a rise in the unemployment situation in Halifax County, Mezger said.

The rate went from 6.1 percent in February to 6.7 percent in March. This time last year, it was at 6.2 percent.

Mezger attributed the Halifax jobless increase to layoffs that took place about a month ago.

While Martinsville had the highest unemployment, the city of Danville came in second.

The U.S. Department of Labor ranked Danville 335th out of 369 metropolitan areas in unemployment across the country in March.