March 11, 2019
Ann Lang
Senior Economist
Economic Information & Analytics Division
(804) 786-3177 or (804) 786-7496
Virginia’s Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate Held Steady at 2.8 Percent Again in January
~ Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment was up 23,700 jobs between December 2018 and January 2019 ~
RICHMOND—Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged in January at 2.8 percent—the sixth consecutive month at 2.8 percent. The January 2019 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Virginia was down 0.5 percentage point from a year ago and continued to be the lowest rate since the April 2001 rate of 2.8 percent. The labor force, which expanded for the seventh consecutive month, added 7,183 for a total of 4,346,164, and with the usual annual revision of the data, this is the new record high. Household employment increased by 6,090, after a slight decline last month, and at 4,223,594, also set a new record high. The number of unemployed increased by 1,093 to 122,570, the third consecutive monthly increase. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which was up 0.1 percentage point in January to 4.0 percent.
Virginia’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 23,700 jobs in January to 4,032,300—a new record high. January’s increase followed December’s revised decline of 600 jobs, which was slightly larger than the initially reported loss of 100 jobs. In January, private sector employment increased by 23,200 jobs to 3,307,800, while public sector payrolls increased by 500 jobs to 724,500.
From December 2018 to January 2019, seasonally adjusted employment increased in all major industry divisions, with the exception of manufacturing—which declined by a slight 100 jobs to 243,900. The largest job gain during January occurred in the leisure and hospitality sector, which increased by 7,000 jobs to 417,800. The second largest over-the-month job gain occurred in professional and business services, with a gain of 6,900 jobs to 757,400. For the professional and business services sector, the employment gains in administrative and support services (+5,100 jobs) and in professional, scientific, and technical services (+2,000 jobs) outweighed the loss in management of companies (-200 jobs). Other employment gains were 2,400 jobs each in finance and in private education and health services to 207,600 and 545,900, respectively; 2,000 jobs in trade and transportation to 660,700; 1,100 jobs in information to 65,900; 800 jobs in miscellaneous services to 202,600; 600 jobs in construction to 198,100; 500 jobs in total government to 724,500; and 100 jobs in mining to 7,900. For total government, the gain in state government employment (+1,000 jobs) outweighed the loss in local government employment (-500 jobs).
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
Industry | Employment | December 2018 to | January 2018 to | ||||
January | December | January | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Total Nonfarm | 4,032,300 | 4,008,600 | 3,988,200 | +23,700 | +0.6% | +44,100 | +1.1% |
Total Private Sector | 3,307,800 | 3,284,600 | 3,268,000 | +23,200 | +0.7% | +39,800 | +1.2% |
Goods-Producing | 449,900 | 449,300 | 441,500 | +600 | +0.1% | +8,400 | +1.9% |
Mining | 7,900 | 7,800 | 7,800 | +100 | +1.3% | +100 | +1.3% |
Construction | 198,100 | 197,500 | 197,000 | +600 | +0.3% | +1,100 | +0.6% |
Manufacturing | 243,900 | 244,000 | 236,700 | -100 | -0.0% | +7,200 | +3.0% |
Service-Providing | 3,582,400 | 3,559,300 | 3,546,700 | +23,100 | +0.6% | +35,700 | +1.0% |
Private Service-Providing | 2,857,900 | 2,835,300 | 2,826,500 | +22,600 | +0.8% | +31,400 | +1.1% |
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 660,700 | 658,700 | 661,100 | +2,000 | +0.3% | -400 | -0.1% |
Information | 65,900 | 64,800 | 68,000 | +1,100 | +1.7% | -2,100 | -3.1% |
Finance | 207,600 | 205,200 | 206,800 | +2,400 | +1.2% | +800 | +0.4% |
Professional and Business Services | 757,400 | 750,500 | 742,000 | +6,900 | +0.9% | +15,400 | +2.1% |
Education and Health Services | 545,900 | 543,500 | 538,500 | +2,400 | +0.4% | +7,400 | +1.4% |
Leisure and Hospitality Services | 417,800 | 410,800 | 408,900 | +7,000 | +1.7% | +8,900 | +2.2% |
Miscellaneous Services | 202,600 | 201,800 | 201,200 | +800 | +0.4% | +1,400 | +0.7% |
Government | 724,500 | 724,000 | 720,200 | +500 | +0.1% | +4,300 | +0.6% |
Federal Government | 179,400 | 179,400 | 178,200 | +0 | +0.0% | +1,200 | +0.7% |
State Government | 160,700 | 159,700 | 160,700 | +1,000 | +0.6% | +0 | +0.0% |
Local Government | 384,400 | 384,900 | 381,300 | -500 | -0.1% | +3,100 | +0.8% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
From January 2018 to January 2019, Virginia’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment was up 44,100 jobs, or 1.1 percent. Over-the-year employment growth in Virginia has been positive for 58 consecutive months. Virginia’s over-the-year growth rate of 1.1 percent in January brought growth back above 1.0 percent and exceeded last month’s revised over-the-year growth of 0.8 percent. Nationally, over-the-year growth was 1.9 percent in January. For Virginia, the private sector recorded an over-the-year gain of 39,800 jobs, while employment in the public sector increased by 4,300 jobs.
Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, nine of the eleven major industry divisions experienced employment gains, while the other two experienced employment losses. The largest over-the-year job gain occurred in professional and business services, up 15,400 jobs (+2.1 percent). The next largest over-the-year job gain occurred in leisure and hospitality, up 8,900 jobs (+2.2 percent). Private education and health services experienced the third largest over-the-year job gain, up 7,400 jobs (+1.4 percent). Other gains were in manufacturing, up 7,200 jobs (+3.0 percent); total government, up 4,300 jobs (+0.6 percent); miscellaneous services, up 1,400 jobs (+0.7 percent); construction, up 1,100 jobs (+0.6 percent); finance, up 800 jobs (+0.4 percent); and mining, up 100 jobs (+1.3 percent). For total government, gains occurred in local (+3,100 jobs) and federal (+1,200 jobs) government employment, while state government employment remained unchanged. Compared to a-year-ago January, information fell by 2,100 jobs (-3.1 percent), and trade and transportation employment fell by 400 jobs (-0.1 percent).
Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
Area | Employment | December 2018 to | January 2018 to | ||||
January | December | January | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Virginia | 4,032,300 | 4,008,600 | 3,988,200 | +23,700 | +0.6% | +44,100 | +1.1% |
Blacksburg-Christiansburg- | 77,500 | 76,700 | 77,400 | +800 | +1.0% | +100 | +0.1% |
Charlottesville MSA | 119,100 | 118,200 | 118,100 | +900 | +0.8% | +1,000 | +0.8% |
Harrisonburg MSA | 68,700 | 68,500 | 68,000 | +200 | +0.3% | +700 | +1.0% |
Lynchburg MSA | 105,800 | 105,400 | 104,400 | +400 | +0.4% | +1,400 | +1.3% |
Northern Virginia MSA | 1,502,600 | 1,496,800 | 1,476,000 | +5,800 | +0.4% | +26,600 | +1.8% |
Richmond MSA | 684,400 | 680,600 | 675,000 | +3,800 | +0.6% | +9,400 | +1.4% |
Roanoke MSA | 162,100 | 161,100 | 161,600 | +1,000 | +0.6% | +500 | +0.3% |
Staunton-Waynesboro MSA | 51,200 | 51,200 | 50,500 | +0 | +0.0% | +700 | +1.4% |
Virginia Beach- | 790,800 | 788,200 | 790,100 | +2,600 | +0.3% | +700 | +0.1% |
Winchester, | 65,000 | 64,800 | 64,200 | +200 | +0.3% | +800 | +1.2% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In January, nine metropolitan areas experienced over-the-month job gains, while employment in the Staunton-Waynesboro metropolitan area remained unchanged. The largest absolute job gain occurred in Northern Virginia, with a gain of 5,800 jobs. Richmond was ranked second, with a gain of 3,800 jobs, and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News was ranked third, with a gain of 2,600 jobs. The other metropolitan areas that experienced gains were: Roanoke (+1,000 jobs); Charlottesville (+900 jobs); Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+800 jobs); Lynchburg (+400 jobs); and Harrisonburg and Winchester (+200 jobs each).
Over the year, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased in all metropolitan areas. The Northern Virginia metropolitan area experienced the largest absolute job gain, up 26,600 jobs (+1.8 percent). Richmond was ranked second, with a gain of 9,400 jobs (+1.4 percent). The other over-the-year job gains occurred in: Lynchburg (+1,400 jobs); Charlottesville (+1,000 jobs); Winchester (+800 jobs); Harrisonburg, Staunton-Waynesboro, and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+700 jobs each); Roanoke (+500 jobs); and Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+100 jobs).
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate was up 0.6 percentage point in January to 3.2 percent, but was down 0.4 percentage point from a year ago. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed decreased by 12,116, household employment increased by 57,459, and as a result, the labor force rose by 45,343. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national unadjusted rate, which was up 0.7 percentage point in January to 4.4 percent.
Compared to last month, the January unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 170,800 manufacturing production workers was unchanged at 39.7 hours, average hourly earnings increased by $0.43 to $20.35, and average weekly earnings increased by $17.08 to $807.90. Compared to last January, the unadjusted workweek decreased by 0.6 hour, average hourly earnings increased by $0.40, and average weekly earnings were higher by $3.91.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of January 6-12, 2019.
The Virginia Employment Commission plans to release the January local area unemployment rates on Friday, March 15, 2019. The data will be available on our website, www.VirginiaLMI.com.
The February statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Friday, March 22, 2019.Files detailing January's unemployment numbers are available below:
