Jobless rate jumps 2.4 percent

Alleghany County earned a dubious honor in August — the county had the largest unemployment rate increase in the state.

Even though the county had the largest increase, it still remained between 5 and 10 percent unemployment, along with about 70 percent of the state's 100 counties. However, statewide, 88 counties saw decreases in unemployment rates — Alleghany was one of only a dozen counties facing increased unemployment during August.

As for the actual numbers, Alleghany's jobless rate increased 2.4 percent to 8.4 percent overall, according to data released by the Employment Security Commis-sion (ESC). The county had a labor force of 5,620 people in August, with about 472 unemployed. Chowan County had the second-largest hike in unemployment rate, up 2.3 percent to 6.8 percent overall unemployment.

Alleghany ESC Director Arvill Scott said that the main cause for the rate jump was the initial claims from workers displaced due to the closing of Bristol Compressors.

"With about 300 remaining workers being released, it has a large affect on our numbers here because they employed such a large portion of our local work force," Scott said. About 35 percent of the displaced Bristol workers live in neighboring Virginia.

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