RICHMOND – The latest labor force estimates show Botetourt County continues to rank in the top five counties with the lowest unemployment rates across Virginia in September, the second month in a row.
The jobless rate dipped slightly from 4 percent in August to 3.9 percent in September, creating a three-way tie for the fifth lowest unemployment rate in Virginia. Augusta and Rockingham counties also witnessed a 3.9 percent unemployment rate in September, according to data released last week by the Virginia Employment Commission. Botetourt County also ranked No. 5 in August.
Highland and Madison counties along with the cities of Falls Church and Poquoson had lower jobless numbers during the month.
Most neighboring counties saw small declines in unemployment claims during September. Alleghany County came near the middle of the list, No. 65. In September it had a 5.6 percent unemployment rate, down from 5.8 the month before, according to the VEC.
Craig County dipped 0.2 of a percent during the month, from 4.9 percent in August to 4.7 in September, VEC data shows. At 4.7 percent jobless rate, Craig County ranked No. 30 in Virginia for unemployment claims.
Meanwhile, Roanoke County had a 4.5 percent jobless claim in September, down from 4.8 percent the month before, making it No. 23 in rank, VEC numbers show.
Rockbridge County saw a small dip from August to September, 4.5 percent to 4.4 percent respectively. The 4.4 percent jobless rate allowed Rockridge to crash the top 20 lowest unemployment rates in Virginia at No. 19, the state agency reported
VEC data shows Bedford County’s jobless claims climb in September. The number went from 4.7 percent in August to 4.8 percent in September, but still came in at No. 31 in the state.
Virginia has 95 counties and 38 independent cities counted in the monthly numbers. Highland County had the lowest rate at 3.1 percent, while Petersburg City had the highest at 15.4 percent, the data show.
Overall, Virginia’s unemployment rate dropped to 6 percent in September, down from 6.3 percent the month before. The U.S. jobless rate also fell from 8.5 percent to 7.7 percent during the timeframe.
Recently, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released earning date covering the first quarter of 2020, pre pandemic.
The average weekly wage – before deductions – in Botetourt County was $848, leading surrounding counties. In Roanoke County average pay was $844 a week; Bedford County $749; Alleghany $689; Craig was $677 and Rockbridge was $631. The City of Roanoke did beat Botetourt County at nearly $1,000 weekly, according to data from the BLS.
Statewide, the City of Alexandria has the highest earners earning an average of $1,507 weekly, while Mathews County residents earn $554 a week, the data shows.
In Virginia the average weekly income is $1,233, slightly ahead of the U.S. average of $1,222, according to the BLS.
