Roanoke, Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Roanoke rose 0.1 percentage points in December 2011 to 6.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points higher than the Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Roanoke peaked in October 2009 at 7.9% and is now 1.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.3% in July 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Roanoke unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Virginia	6.2%	0.0	-0.4
Roanoke	6.7%	+0.1	-0.7

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Roanoke, Virginia, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Roanoke, Virginia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Roanoke peaked in November 2009 at 12,557. There are now 1,949 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 9,946 in July 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 662. Roanoke employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Roanoke, Virginia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Roanoke	10,608	+46	-936

Number of Unemployed Persons

Roanoke, Virginia Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Virginia Unemployment Rate	Roanoke Unemployment Rate	Roanoke Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	6.2%	6.7%	10,608
November 2011	8.7%	6.2%	6.6%	10,562
October 2011	8.9%	6.4%	6.7%	10,708
September 2011	9.0%	6.5%	6.6%	10,495
August 2011	9.1%	6.3%	6.4%	10,122
July 2011	9.1%	6.1%	6.3%	9,946
June 2011	9.1%	6.0%	6.4%	9,974
May 2011	9.0%	6.0%	6.4%	9,992
April 2011	9.0%	6.1%	6.5%	10,177
March 2011	8.9%	6.2%	6.7%	10,372
February 2011	9.0%	6.4%	6.9%	10,741
January 2011	9.1%	6.5%	7.2%	11,261