Culpeper County’s unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in more than a year, according to new figures released last week by the Virginia Employment Commission.
Unemployment was at 7.1 percent in December, down from a recent high of 9.3 percent last February, according to the seasonably unadjusted data. As of December, 1,485 Culpeper County residents were collecting unemployment benefits – a reduction of almost 500 people since last February.
Jim Charapich, president and CEO of the Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce, said positive signs are occuring in the retail sector, but cautioned that a return to 2005 and 2006 levels will not happen anytime soon.
"Most businesses have made the adjustment to the new normal and are prepared to scale up hiring as sales justify," he said. "Major employers in the private sector are seeing positive signs and project increases in sales. As a result, there are jobs for those with the necessary skills."
Charapich emphasized the critical importance of having Germanna Community College in Culpeper to support workforce development and training required to fill the new positions.
"Our outlook is cautiously optimistic," he said.
Culpeper County no longer leads the five-county region for unemployment, as the VEC reported a higher rate for Orange County in November (7.5 percent) and December (7.3 percent).
Of the region, Fauquier County had the lowest unemployment in December (4.9 percent) followed by Rappahannock (5.2 percent) and Madison (5.5 percent).
Unemployment Dec. 2010
U.S. 9.1 percent
Virginia 6.4 percent
Culpeper 7.1 percent
Fauquier 4.9 percent
Madison 5.5 percent
Orange 7.3 percent
Rappahannock 5.2 percent
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