Richmond region’s jobless rate among lowest in U.S.

-- The Richmond region has one of the lowest unemployment rates among the country's largest metro areas, but the rate jumped 56 percent in November compared with the same month in 2007.

That year-over-year percentage increase is higher than some metro areas of comparable size and in the nation, even though many of those regions and the country have higher jobless rates.

For instance, Memphis, Tenn., had a 6.9 percent unemployment rate in November -- higher than the Richmond area's 5 percent.

But the Tennessee city's rate of increase from November 2007 was 30 percent.

"We're concerned, but all in all, Virginia is holding up a lot better than just about anyone else, and Richmond" is in a similar position, said William F. Mezger, chief economist with the Virginia Employment Commission.

The national increase was 44 percent -- from 4.5 percent to 6.5 percent -- during the same time period. December's national unemployment statistics are scheduled to be released today.

Virginia's November figures saw a 53 percent jump -- from 3 percent to 4.6 percent.

Despite Virginia's hefty increase, three of its large metro areas had some of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, according to a November ranking of areas with populations of more than 1 million by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Northern Virginia's 4.4 percent jobless rate tied with Oklahoma City, for the lowest in the nation.

Hampton Roads is ranked third with a 4.8 percent rate.

But those regions also saw a big percentage increase. The rates in Northern Virginia jumped 47 percent, while it increased 50 percent in Hampton Roads.

Richmond tied with Boston and Austin, Texas, for having the fifth-best unemployment rate.

Other metro areas across the country saw bigger percentage increases.

Charlotte, N.C., had a 69 percent jump, while Jacksonville, Fla. spiked at 71 percent.

The Labor Department rankings point to a healthier economy in Virginia and Richmond than elsewhere in the states.

Military and federal employment help Virginia.

In 2006, the latest year available, 131,000 Virginia residents worked in civilian jobs for the federal government. Only the District of Columbia and California, with a population five times more than Virginia, surpassed the Old Dominion, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

The Richmond area has Fort Lee, which is expanding, and the Defense Supply Center. Moreover, state and federal governments are the top employers, as are health-care and education sectors, Mezger said.

"Seats of state government are usually pretty low in unemployment," he said.

Another capital, Oklahoma City, saw the jobless rate from November 2007 to November 2008 rise 10 percent. In addition to state government, the area is home to Fort Tinker, a major U.S. Air Force base.

"They're there every day and not subject to the whims of the marketplace," said Roy Williams, president and chief executive of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.

Oiland gas-exploration companies -- which got a boost when gas prices rose -- helped. Other industries, such as aviation, tourism, aerospace and biosciences, also have kept the rate stable.

Real estate development was conservative in Oklahoma but not elsewhere in the country, he said. Florida, Nevada and California especially were hit by the subprime mortgage loans that helped crash the housing market.

"With just a few exceptions, if you go around the country, housing was part of the story," said Sean Snaith, director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at University of Central Florida. "Jacksonville was not immune to that."

Contact Emily C. Dooley at (804) 649-6016 or .