Va. jobless rate increases slightly in May
Virginia's jobless rate increases slightly to 5.3 percent in May; still below national average
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- The Virginia Employment Commission says the state's jobless rate increased slightly in May after two consecutive months of decreases.
The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in May. That's down from 5.2 percent in April, and down from 5.9 percent a year ago.
Virginia's unemployment rate has been trending down since joblessness peaked at 7.4 percent from December 2009 until March 2010.
The Labor Department says the national unemployment rate was 7.6 percent in May. Unemployment rates fell in half of U.S. states last month, rose in 17 and were unchanged in eight.
Nationally, the economy added 175,000 jobs in May, nearly matching the average monthly gain for the past year.
