July 3, 2013
Eleanor Kennedy
Although the regional unemployment rate increased from April to May, it still fell from 6.6 percent during the same month in 2012. Most localities in the area saw a similar pattern of month-to-month increases but year-over-year drops.
The City of Lynchburg saw the biggest increase from April to May, climbing from 6.4 percent to 7.6 percent, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the city’s rate fell slightly from 7.7 percent in May 2012.
Bedford city was the only locality to record a month-to-month drop, decreasing from 7.5 percent in April to 7.3 percent in May. The city was also the only locality to see an increase from last year, climbing slightly from 7 percent in May 2012. Bedford reverted to a town Monday, meaning June will be the last month it has its own unemployment statistics.
Appomattox County saw the biggest drop from last year, falling more than a percentage point from 7.3 percent in May 2012 to 6 percent this year. Nelson and Bedford counties were the only localities below the statewide rate of 5.6 percent for May. The City of Lynchburg was the only place with a rate higher than the national rate of 7.3 percent for the month.