The number of people looking for jobs in and around Charlottesville has jumped up again, mainly because they're looking and not finding. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate rose 0.6 percent in June for the city of Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, and Nelson counties.
It may not be ideal, but for a lot of people looking for income, a temp agency is the way to go. And one agency here in town says their business has surged. Robbins Staffing in Albemarle County primarily sees people looking for work as secretaries, accountants, even housekeepers. They say business has shot up 50 percent this year.
Robbins Staffing Owner Joyce Robbins said, "Employers - maybe they don't yet feel they can hire a permanent person, but they need help and maybe it's just for a few days, a few weeks, a few months."
Terry Rephann, a regional economist for the Weldon Cooper Center at the University of Virginia stated, "If employment goes up a little, but the labor force goes up a whole lot more than that, then the unemployment rate's going to go up."
Traditionally, college grads and students looking for summer work make the unemployment go up during the summer months. Despite the unemployment uptick, Rephann says Charlottesville still does better than the rest of the commonwealth. That's because our economy relies heavily on two industries that do well during a recession - healthcare and education.
