May 21, 2021
Timothy Aylor
Senior Economist
Economic Information & Analytics Division
timothy.aylor@vec.virginia.gov
(804) 786-3976
The Virginia unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent in April while total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 2,400
~ Changes in these measures since April 2020 primarily reflect the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it ~
RICHMOND— Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.4 of a percentage point in April to 4.7 percent, which is 6.6 percentage points below the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in April, the labor force decreased by 12,422 to 4,225,614, as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 17,097 to 197,338. The number of employed residents rose by 4,675 to 4,028,276. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which increased to 6.1 percent.
Virginia nonagricultural wage and salary employment, from the monthly establishment survey, rose by 2,400 jobs in April to 3,889,700. March’s preliminary estimate was revised downward by 300, subtracting from that month’s job gain. In April, private sector employment increased by 3,400 jobs to 3,187,500, while public sector payrolls decreased by 1,000 jobs to 702,200. The decrease occurred in state government (-1,600 jobs), while federal government added 600 jobs. Local government was unchanged over the month.
Employment rose in six of eleven major industry sectors and declined in five. The largest job gain during April occurred in trade and transportation with an increase of 2,400 jobs to 656,400. The second largest increase occurred in manufacturing (+1,300 jobs) to 237,700. Information gained 1,100 jobs, rising to 65,600 in April. Other increases included leisure and hospitality (+1,000 jobs) to 330,800, mining (+100 jobs) to 7,500, and other services (+100 jobs) to 180,600. The largest job loss during April occurred in construction with a decrease of 1,400 jobs to 204,600. The second largest decrease occurred in government (-1,000 jobs) to 702,200. Other decreases included professional and business services (-700 jobs) to 767,200, finance (-300 jobs) to 205,900, and education and health services (-200 jobs) to 531,200.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
Industry | Employment | March 2021 to | April 2020 to | ||||
April | March | April | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Total Nonfarm | 3,889,700 | 3,887,300 | 3,611,000 | 2,400 | 0.1% | 278,700 | 7.7% |
Total Private Sector | 3,187,500 | 3,184,100 | 2,897,700 | 3,400 | 0.1% | 289,800 | 10.0% |
Goods-Producing | 449,800 | 449,800 | 428,100 | 0 | 0.0% | 21,700 | 5.1% |
Mining | 7,500 | 7,400 | 6,800 | 100 | 1.4% | 700 | 10.3% |
Construction | 204,600 | 206,000 | 196,400 | -1,400 | -0.7% | 8,200 | 4.2% |
Manufacturing | 237,700 | 236,400 | 224,900 | 1,300 | 0.5% | 12,800 | 5.7% |
Service-Providing | 3,439,900 | 3,437,500 | 3,182,900 | 2,400 | 0.1% | 257,000 | 8.1% |
Private Service-Providing | 2,737,700 | 2,734,300 | 2,469,600 | 3,400 | 0.1% | 268,100 | 10.9% |
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 656,400 | 654,000 | 589,100 | 2,400 | 0.4% | 67,300 | 11.4% |
Information | 65,600 | 64,500 | 64,000 | 1,100 | 1.7% | 1,600 | 2.5% |
Finance | 205,900 | 206,200 | 208,300 | -300 | -0.1% | -2,400 | -1.2% |
Professional and Business Services | 767,200 | 767,900 | 739,400 | -700 | -0.1% | 27,800 | 3.8% |
Education and Health Services | 531,200 | 531,400 | 493,000 | -200 | 0.0% | 38,200 | 7.7% |
Leisure and Hospitality Services | 330,800 | 329,800 | 216,800 | 1,000 | 0.3% | 114,000 | 52.6% |
Miscellaneous Services | 180,600 | 180,500 | 159,000 | 100 | 0.1% | 21,600 | 13.6% |
Government | 702,200 | 703,200 | 713,300 | -1,000 | -0.1% | -11,100 | -1.6% |
Federal Government | 187,500 | 186,900 | 185,100 | 600 | 0.3% | 2,400 | 1.3% |
State Government | 154,300 | 155,900 | 157,700 | -1,600 | -1.0% | -3,400 | -2.2% |
Local Government | 360,400 | 360,400 | 370,500 | 0 | 0.0% | -10,100 | -2.7% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
From April 2020 to April 2021, the VEC estimates that establishments in Virginia gained 278,700 jobs, an increase of 7.7%. In April, the private sector recorded an over-the-year gain of 289,800 jobs, while employment in the public sector lost 11,100 jobs.
Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, nine of eleven majorindustry divisions experienced employment increases. The largest over-the-year job gain occurred in leisure and hospitality, up 114,000 jobs (+52.6%). The next largest over-the-year job gain occurred in trade and transportation, up 67,300 jobs (+11.4%). Education and health services experienced the third largest over-the-year job gain of 38,200 jobs (+7.7%). Professional and business services employment rose by 27,800 jobs (+3.8%). Other services rose by 21,600 jobs (+13.6%) while manufacturing added 12,800 jobs (+5.7%). Other increases were in construction, up 8,200 jobs (+4.2%); information, up 1,600 jobs (+2.5%); and mining, up 700 jobs (+10.3%). Government experienced the largest decrease, falling by 11,100 jobs. Within government, there were decreases in local government employment (-10,100 jobs) and state government employment (-3,400 jobs). Federal government experienced an increase in employment (+2,400 jobs). Finance lost 2,400 jobs over the year.
Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Area | Employment | March 2021 to | April 2020 to | ||||
April | March | April | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Virginia | 3,889,700 | 3,887,300 | 3,611,000 | 2,400 | 0.1% | 278,700 | 7.7% |
Blacksburg-Christiansburg- | 75,800 | 75,800 | 67,600 | 0 | 0.0% | 8,200 | 12.1% |
Charlottesville MSA | 111,800 | 112,300 | 105,000 | -500 | -0.4% | 6,800 | 6.5% |
Harrisonburg MSA | 67,300 | 67,000 | 61,800 | 300 | 0.4% | 5,500 | 8.9% |
Lynchburg MSA | 99,300 | 99,500 | 94,600 | -200 | -0.2% | 4,700 | 5.0% |
Northern Virginia MSA | 1,465,700 | 1,462,100 | 1,354,100 | 3,600 | 0.2% | 111,600 | 8.2% |
Richmond MSA | 648,200 | 649,000 | 613,500 | -800 | -0.1% | 34,700 | 5.7% |
Roanoke MSA | 157,500 | 157,100 | 145,300 | 400 | 0.3% | 12,200 | 8.4% |
Staunton-Waynesboro MSA | 50,900 | 51,000 | 46,900 | -100 | -0.2% | 4,000 | 8.5% |
Virginia Beach- | 761,600 | 763,900 | 699,800 | -2,300 | -0.3% | 61,800 | 8.8% |
Winchester, | 66,800 | 66,700 | 60,300 | 100 | 0.1% | 6,500 | 10.8% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In April, four metropolitan areas experienced over-the-month job gains, one was unchanged, while five experienced losses. The largest absolute job increase occurred in Northern Virginia (+3,600 jobs). The next largest absolute job gain occurred in Roanoke (+400 jobs). The third largest increase occurred in Harrisonburg (+300 jobs). Winchester added 100 jobs over-the-month. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford was unchanged over the month. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News experienced the largest absolute job loss, down 2,300 jobs. Other over-the-month job losses occurred in Richmond (-800 jobs), Charlottesville (-500 jobs), Lynchburg (-200 jobs), and Staunton-Waynesboro (-100 jobs).
Over-the-year, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased in all ten metropolitan areas. The Northern Virginia metropolitan area experienced the largest absolute job gain, up 111,600 jobs (+8.2%). Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News ranked second with a gain of 61,800 jobs (+8.8%). Richmond ranked third, with a gain of 34,700 jobs (+5.7%). Other over-the-year job gains occurred in Roanoke (+12,200 jobs), Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+8,200 jobs), Charlottesville (+6,800 jobs), Winchester (+6,500 jobs). Harrisonburg (+5,500 jobs), Lynchburg (+4,700 jobs), and Staunton-Waynesboro (+4,000 jobs).
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate fell by 1.2 percentage points in April to 3.9 percent, and was down 7.1 percentage points from a year ago. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed decreased by 315,133, household employment increased by 162,124, and the labor force decreased by 153,009. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national unadjusted rate, which fell by 0.5 of a percentage point in April to 5.7 percent.
Compared to last month, the April unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 158,700 manufacturing production workers was unchanged at 41.8 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers increased by $.14 to $21.02 in April and average weekly earnings rose $5.86 to $878.64.
Technical note: Estimates of unemployment and industry employment levels are obtained from two separate monthly surveys. Resident employment and unemployment data are mainly derived from the Virginia portion of the national Current Population Survey (CPS), a household survey conducted each month by the U.S. Census Bureau under contract with BLS, which provides input to the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program (often referred to as the “household” survey). Industry employment data is mainly derived from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey, a monthly survey of approximately 18,000 Virginia businesses conducted by BLS, which provides estimates of employment, hours, and earnings data broken down by industry for the nation as a whole, all states and most major metropolitan areas (often referred to as the “establishment” survey). Both industry and household estimates are revised each month based on additional information from updated survey reports compiled by the BLS. For national figures and information on how COVID-19 affected collection of the BLS establishment and household surveys in April, refer to the BLS April 2021 Employment Situation press release for details.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of April 11-17, 2021.
The Virginia Employment Commission plans to release the April local area unemployment rates on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. The data will be available on our website www.VirginiaWorks.com. The May statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.
Files detailing April's unemployment numbers are available below:
