Halifax County's unemployment rate ranks third highest in the state,
coming in behind only the cities of Martinsville and Danville. The
county's jobless rate climbed to 6.7 percent in June, the latest figure
available, after coming in at 5.8 percent in May.
Martinsville had highest jobless rate in June ó 8.4 percent ó with
Danville next highest with a 7.2 percent rate. Statewide, the jobless
rate increased to 3.2 percent in June as students entered the summer
labor market with the close of schools.
The civilian job market in Halifax County included 16,124 members
during the month of June with 1,081 seeking jobs. That compared with a
June 2006 labor force of 15,829 members of which 894 were looking for
work, giving the county a 5.6 percent unemployed rate last June.
Neighboring counties fared better.
To the west in Pittsylvania County the jobless rate stood at 5.9
percent while to the east Mecklenburg County had a jobless rate of 5.2
with only 675 members of its 13,039 member labor force hunting for
work. Charlotte County, which was hard hit earlier in the year, also
had an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent with 276 people looking for
work.
Several other areas had high rates with Petersburg registering a 6.2
percent rate and Pulaski County 6.4.
The increase to the 3.2 percent rate in June was the highest it has
been since February of 2007 when it rose to 3.2. However, statewide the
June 2006 rate remained the same as that of June 2007.
Nationally the jobless rate stood at 4.7 percent.