Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun Have Lowest Unemployment Rates in Virginia

Arlington County had Virginia's lowest jobless rate -- 3.7 percent -- in August, followed by Fairfax and Loudoun counties at 4.1 percent

Arlington County had Virginia's lowest jobless rate -- 3.7 percent -- in August, according to new data from the Virginia Employment Commission.

Fairfax and Loudoun counties followed closely, both at 4.1 percent, in August, the most recent month available.

In southwestern Virginia, the city of Martinsville had the highest jobless rate in Virginia in August. The Virginia Employment Commission says the city's seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was 14.6 percent. That's up from 13 percent in July and down from 16.7 percent a year ago.

Virginia's statewide unemployment rate for August was 5.6 percent, nearly two percent lower than the national rate of 7.3 percent.

Rates dropped from last year in 311 metropolitan areas, increased in 47 and were flat in 14.

The Danville region had the highest unemployment rate among Virginia's metropolitan regions at 8.1 percent. The D.C. metropolitan region, which includes Arlington and Alexandria, had the lowest rate of 4.4 percent.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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