RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia’s jobless rate fell to 4.8 percent in December, marking the state’s lowest unemployment rate since October 2008. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down from 5 percent in November and down from 5.2 percent a year ago. The Virginia Employment Commission says job gains were seen in six major industries, including leisure and hospitality and total government. Job losses were recorded in five other industries, including construction. Virginia has seen jobless rates of 4.9 percent during several months over the last year. But the last time the rate went below that was in October 2008 when it was 4.5 percent. The Labor Department says unemployment rates fell in 42 states in December, rose in four states and were unchanged in four. The national unemployment rate was 5.6 percent.
