Patrick County also saw an increase, from 7.9 percent in November to 8.6 percent in December. The December rate was better than the year before, when unemployment in Patrick was 10.7 percent.

As reported by the Martinsville Bulletin, Thursday, February 2, 2012 This was according to data released Wednesday by the Virginia Employment Commission. Martinsville’s jobless rate in December was 16.7 percent, up from 15.4 percent in November but down from 17.1 percent in December 2010, the VEC reported. Henry County’s rate was 10.4 percent in December, VEC data show, also up from November, when the rate was 10.1 percent, but down from December 2010, when it was 12.2 percent. Patrick County also saw an increase, from 7.9 percent in November to 8.6 percent in December. The December rate was better than the year before, when unemployment in Patrick was 10.7 percent. Patrick County’s rate was the state’s 26th highest in December. Patrick County showed a labor force of 9,126 in December, down from 9,313 in November but up from 9,070 in December 2010. Patrick was the only of the three localities to show a larger labor force in December 2011 than the year before, VEC data show. Arlington County in Northern Virginia had the state’s lowest unemployment rate for the month at 3.6 percent.