Department of Numbers

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Blacksburg fell 0.3 percentage points in March 2012 to 5.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Blacksburg peaked in November 2009 at 9.0% and is now 3.3 percentage points lower. You can also compare Blacksburg unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2012 Month/Month Year/Year
National 8.2% -0.1 -0.7
Virginia 5.6% -0.1 -0.6
Blacksburg 5.7% -0.3 -1.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2012 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Blacksburg, Virginia, National

Blacksburg, Virginia monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Blacksburg, Virginia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Blacksburg peaked in November 2009 at 7,218. There are now 2,261 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Blacksburg employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Blacksburg, Virginia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2012 Month/Month Year/Year
Blacksburg 4,957 -206 -486

Number of Unemployed Persons

Blacksburg, Virginia Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Virginia
Unemployment Rate
Blacksburg
Unemployment Rate
Blacksburg
Unemployed
April
2012
8.1% 5.6%
March
2012
8.2% 5.6% 5.7% 4,957
February
2012
8.3% 5.7% 6.0% 5,163
January
2012
8.3% 5.8% 6.4% 5,377
December
2011
8.5% 6.1% 6.9% 5,732
November
2011
8.7% 6.2% 7.0% 5,735
October
2011
8.9% 6.2% 7.2% 5,866
September
2011
9.0% 6.3% 7.1% 5,729
August
2011
9.1% 6.4% 6.8% 5,433
July
2011
9.1% 6.4% 6.7% 5,315
June
2011
9.1% 6.3% 6.7% 5,338
May
2011
9.0% 6.2% 6.8% 5,354
April
2011
9.0% 6.2% 6.7% 5,314

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.