Botetourt County’s unemployment rate continued to drop, but slipped out of the top five list in October, according to data from the Virginia Employment Commission.
The county’s jobless rate dipped to 3.3 percent during the month, down six-tenth of a percent from September, the data shows. However, the county’s pre-COVID-19 jobless rate was 2.4 percent in October 2019.
Neighboring counties also witnessed healthy declines in jobless claims in October. Craig County’s rate dipped more than 1 percent, from 4.7 in September to 3.6 in October, according to the VEC.
Bedford County slipped to 4 percent in October compared to 4.8 percent in September. Roanoke County unemployment claims went from 4.6 percent in September to 3.8 in October. Rockbridge County also witnessed a healthy decline. It recorded a 4.5 percent unemployment rate in September, but fell six-tenths of a point to 3.9 percent in October, data shows.
Alleghany County, which constantly had the area’s high jobless rate, dropped an eye-opening 1.3 percent between October and September, 4.5 percent versus 5.8 percent, respectively, the VEC reports.
An email to the VEC about how many claimants’ benefits expired between September and October went unanswered. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined 0.9 percent in October to 5.3 percent, 2.6 percent above the rate a year ago.
A number of Virginia economists predicted the numbers will decline further in November, but not because of a booming job market. In November, Virginia announced extended unemployment benefits ended in mid-month.
In a press release, the VEC explained, as the national unemployment rate improved, the federal Department of Labor ended the extended unemployment program in the state, which allowed recipients an additional 13 weeks of benefits. A VEC spokeswoman said about 20,000 Virginians are still collecting extended benefits in mid-November. A county-by-county breakdown wasn’t immediately available.
