Virginia’s December County and Area Employment Figures Released

RICHMOND— Compared to a year earlier, October 2023 unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 40 of Virginia’s 133 counties and cities, remained unchanged in 42, and increased in 51. In October, Petersburg City had the highest unemployment rate at 5.3 percent, while Arlington County had the lowest rate at 2.2 percent. The employment estimates in this release are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.

Among the metro areas, Charlottesville, Northern Virginia², and Winchester had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.6 percent, while Lynchburg had the highest at 3.5 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.0 percent, a 0.1 percentage point increase from a year earlier.

The October 2023 local unemployment rates are online here. You can also access the local unemployment rates by clicking the Area Rates link under the unemployment graph located on www.VirginiaWorks.com. 

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of October 8-14, 2023.

RICHMOND— Virginia Works (the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement) announced today that, compared to a year earlier, June 2024 unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 79 of Virginia’s 133 counties and cities, remained unchanged in 34, and decreased in 20. In June, Highland County had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.9 percent, while Lexington city had the highest at 5.8 percent. The employment estimates in this release are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.

Among the metro areas, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria and Winchester had the lowest unemployment rates at 2.7 percent, while Lynchburg had the highest at 3.7 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.0 percent, a 0.1 percentage point increase from a year earlier and 1.3 points lower than the national rate. The June 2024 local unemployment rates are online: https://www.vec.virginia.gov/node/18835. You can also access the local unemployment rates by clicking the Area Rates link under the unemployment graph located on www.VirginiaWorks.com.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of June 9-15, 2024.

RICHMOND— Virginia Works (the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement) announced today that, compared to a year earlier, May 2024 unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 116 of Virginia’s 133 counties and cities, increased in 11, and remained unchanged in six. In May, Arlington County and Highland County had the lowest unemployment rates at 2.0 percent, while Petersburg city had the highest at 5.1 percent. The employment estimates in this release are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.

Among the metro areas, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria and Winchester had the lowest unemployment rates at 2.3 percent, while Lynchburg had the highest at 3.2 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 2.6 percent, a 0.2 percentage point decrease from a year earlier and 1.1 points lower than the national rate. The May 2024 local unemployment rates are online: https://www.vec.virginia.gov/node/18767. You can also access the local unemployment rates by clicking the Area Rates link under the unemployment graph located on www.VirginiaWorks.com.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of May 12-18, 2024.

RICHMOND— Virginia Works (the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement) announced today that, compared to a year earlier, April 2024 unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 90 of Virginia’s 133 counties and cities, remained unchanged in 23, and increased in 20. In April, Arlington County had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.7 percent, while Petersburg city had the highest at 4.8 percent. The employment estimates in this release are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.

April 2024 unemployment rates decreased in five metro areas and remained unchanged in five. Among the metro areas, Charlottesville had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.0 percent, while Lynchburg had the highest at 2.7 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 2.3 percent, a 0.1 percentage point decrease from a year earlier and 1.2 points lower than the national rate. The April 2024 local unemployment rates are online: https://www.vec.virginia.gov/node/18675/. You can also access the local unemployment rates by visiting www.VirginiaWorks.com.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of April 7-13, 2024.

RICHMOND — Virginia Works (the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement) announced today that, compared to a year earlier, March 2024 unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 129 of Virginia’s 133 counties and cities, were unchanged in three, and increased in one. In March, Arlington County had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.7 percent, while Petersburg City had the highest unemployment rate at 5.2 percent. The employment estimates in this release are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.

Among the metro areas, Charlottesville, Staunton, and Winchester had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.1 percent, while Lynchburg had the highest at 2.9 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 2.4 percent, 0.4 of a point lower than a year earlier and 1.5 points lower than the national rate. The March 2024 local unemployment rates are online: https://www.vec.virginia.gov/node/18596. You can also access the local unemployment rates by visiting www.VirginiaWorks.com.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of March 10-16, 2024.

RICHMOND — Virginia Works (the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement) announced today that, compared to a year earlier, February 2024 unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 65 of Virginia’s 133 counties and cities, were unchanged in 26, and increased in 42. In February, Arlington County had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.2 percent, while Northumberland County and Petersburg City had the highest unemployment rate at 5.6 percent. The employment estimates in this release are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.

Among the metro areas, Charlottesville, Northern Virginia², and Winchester had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.6 percent, while Lynchburg had the highest at 3.4 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 2.9 percent, unchanged from a year earlier and 1.3 points lower than the national rate. The February 2024 local unemployment rates are online: https://www.vec.virginia.gov/node/18477. You can also access the local unemployment rates by visiting www.VirginiaWorks.com.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of February 11-17, 2024.

RICHMOND — Virginia Works (the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement) announced today that, compared to a year earlier, January 2024 unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 130 of Virginia’s 133 counties and cities and increased in three. In January, Arlington County and Falls Church city had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.1 percent, while Petersburg City had the highest unemployment rate at 5.7 percent. The employment estimates in this release are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.

Among the metro areas, Northern Virginia² and Winchester had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.4 percent, while Lynchburg had the highest at 3.3 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 2.7 percent, a 0.3 percentage point decrease from a year earlier and 1.4 points lower than the national rate. The January 2024 local unemployment rates are online: https://www.vec.virginia.gov/node/18418. You can also access the local unemployment rates by clicking the Area Rates link under the unemployment graph located on www.VirginiaWorks.com.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of January 7-13, 2024.

RICHMOND— Virginia Works (the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement) announced today that, compared to a year earlier, December 2023 unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 67 of Virginia’s 133 counties and cities, remained unchanged in 29, and decreased in 37. In December, Petersburg City had the highest unemployment rate at 5.7 percent, while Arlington and Madison counties had the lowest rate at 2.0 percent. The employment estimates in this release are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.

Among the metro areas, Charlottesville, Northern Virginia², Staunton, and Winchester had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.4 percent, while Lynchburg had the highest at 3.2 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 2.7 percent, a 0.1 percentage point increase from a year earlier and 0.8 of a point lower than the national rate. The December 2023 local unemployment rates are online: https://www.vec.virginia.gov/node/18241. You can also access the local unemployment rates by clicking the Area Rates link under the unemployment graph located on www.VirginiaWorks.com.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of December 10-16, 2023.