Nelson unemployment among lowest in area

By Bryan Gentry

Published: August 6, 2008

Nelson County’s unemployment rate reached 3.5 percent in June, but is still one of the lowest jobless rates in the region.

The job growth rate over the past 12 months fell below the rest of the region, however.

The state as a whole and the Lynchburg region saw unemployment increases in June, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. William Mezger, chief economist for the commission, said the increase is normal and is attributed to students looking for summer jobs.

Nelson County’s unemployment rate was 3 percent in June 2007.

In the past year, the county has added about 45 jobs, a growth rate of about .58 percent. While the growth rate is identical to the past year’s job growth in Charlottesville, it is slower than the Lynchburg region’s growth rate of about 2.3 percent.

The job creation rate in Amherst County in the past 12 months has kept pace with most of Region 2000, which has led the state in job growth for several months this year.

In June 2008, the county had added 313 jobs since the same time last year, a growth rate of 2.05 percent, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.

That growth rate is nearly identical to every other jurisdiction in the region except Bedford County, which had more than 3 percent job growth in that same time.

The region as a whole had about 2.3 percent growth, the highest percentage growth rate in Virginia.