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Comparing Virginia's Unemployment with Other Localities Across the Country

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment in Virginia is currently at 8.4%. That’s a dramatic increase since the pandemic hit. But, metropolitan areas in Virginia are actually doing significantly better than many other cities across the country.

Unemployment in Virginia is highest in Hampton Roads, Southside and Richmond, places where more than 9% of workers are unemployed. That’s actually quite a bit better than in the Rust Belt or the West Coast, where cities are seeing unemployment numbers that are 13% or higher.

Maurice Kugler George Mason University says part of the reason for that is the way Virginia has responded to the crisis. 

“I think part of what’s going on is a reflection that a gradual reopening of the economy that is well-planned and has an exit strategy has clear payoffs in terms of progressive improvements in the public health situation,” Kugler says.

Adam Blandin at Virginia Commonwealth University says weekly unemployment insurance claims tell a slightly different story. 

“Those claims show an uptick in unemployment claims starting in mid-July," he explains. "So whereas the June unemployment rates were much lower than in May, it looks like the recovery may have started to slow in July.”

He says we’ll know more about that later this week, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release a more complete picture of what happened with the economy over the early part of the summer.

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.

Michael Pope is an author and journalist who lives in Old Town Alexandria.