RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Virginia's unemployment rate fell slightly in May and remains below the national average.
The Virginia Employment Commission says that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May was 6 percent, slightly lower than April. The state's unemployment rate has been trending down since peaking at 7.2 percent from December 2009 to February 2010. The national average for May was 9.1 percent.
The agency said 52,934 Virginians were receiving regular unemployment benefits in May. That's down from 55,412 in April and down from 72,940 in May 2010.
Nationally, the unemployment rate fell in fewer than half of U.S. states, a sign that job growth has slowed in many parts of the country. Only 22 states reported a net gain in jobs in May, while 27 states lost jobs.
