July 16, 2021
Timothy Aylor
Senior Economist
Economic Information & Analytics Division
timothy.aylor@vec.virginia.gov
(804) 786-3976
The Virginia unemployment rate fell to 4.3 percent in June while total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,200
~ 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 0.2 of a percentage point in June to 4.3 percent, which is 4.5 percentage points below the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in June, the labor force increased by 4,343 to 4,234,360, as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 5,448 to 183,799. The number of employed residents rose by 9,791 to 4,050,561. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which was little changed as it rose from 5.8 to 5.9 percent.
Virginia nonagricultural wage and salary employment, from the monthly establishment survey, rose by 3,200 jobs in June to 3,894,200. May’s preliminary estimate was revised upward by 2,500, adding to that month’s job gain. In June, private sector employment decreased by 2,700 jobs to 3,190,900, while public sector payrolls increased by 5,900 jobs to 703,300. Local government added 10,000 jobs over the month. Decreases occurred in state government (-3,900 jobs) while federal government lost 200 jobs.
Employment rose in six of eleven major industry sectors and declined in five. The largest job gain during June occurred in government with an increase of 5,900 jobs to 703,300. The second largest increase occurred in trade and transportation (+2,000 jobs) to 658,900. Construction gained 1,400 jobs, rising to 204,900 in June. Other increases included other services (+800 jobs) to 181,300, information (+500 jobs) to 64,400, and mining (+100 jobs) to 7,500. The largest job loss during June occurred in leisure and hospitality with a decrease of 4,000 jobs to 330,400. The second largest decrease occurred in professional and business services (-1,300 jobs) to 768,900. Other decreases included finance (-900 jobs) to 204,500, education and health services (-700 jobs) to 534,000, and manufacturing (-600 jobs) to 236,100.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
Industry | Employment | May 2021 to | June 2020 to | ||||
June | May | June | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Total Nonfarm | 3,894,200 | 3,891,000 | 3,703,800 | 3,200 | 0.1% | 190,400 | 5.1% |
Total Private Sector | 3,190,900 | 3,193,600 | 3,011,000 | -2,700 | -0.1% | 179,900 | 6.0% |
Goods-Producing | 448,500 | 447,600 | 432,400 | 900 | 0.2% | 16,100 | 3.7% |
Mining | 7,500 | 7,400 | 6,800 | 100 | 1.4% | 700 | 10.3% |
Construction | 204,900 | 203,500 | 198,500 | 1,400 | 0.7% | 6,400 | 3.2% |
Manufacturing | 236,100 | 236,700 | 227,100 | -600 | -0.3% | 9,000 | 4.0% |
Service-Providing | 3,445,700 | 3,443,400 | 3,271,400 | 2,300 | 0.1% | 174,300 | 5.3% |
Private Service-Providing | 2,742,400 | 2,746,000 | 2,578,600 | -3,600 | -0.1% | 163,800 | 6.4% |
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 658,900 | 656,900 | 618,800 | 2,000 | 0.3% | 40,100 | 6.5% |
Information | 64,400 | 63,900 | 63,800 | 500 | 0.8% | 600 | 0.9% |
Finance | 204,500 | 205,400 | 206,800 | -900 | -0.4% | -2,300 | -1.1% |
Professional and Business Services | 768,900 | 770,200 | 742,600 | -1,300 | -0.2% | 26,300 | 3.5% |
Education and Health Services | 534,000 | 534,700 | 512,000 | -700 | -0.1% | 22,000 | 4.3% |
Leisure and Hospitality Services | 330,400 | 334,400 | 263,200 | -4,000 | -1.2% | 67,200 | 25.5% |
Miscellaneous Services | 181,300 | 180,500 | 171,400 | 800 | 0.4% | 9,900 | 5.8% |
Government | 703,300 | 697,400 | 692,800 | 5,900 | 0.8% | 10,500 | 1.5% |
Federal Government | 186,100 | 186,300 | 184,400 | -200 | -0.1% | 1,700 | 0.9% |
State Government | 146,900 | 150,800 | 155,900 | -3,900 | -2.6% | -9,000 | -5.8% |
Local Government | 370,300 | 360,300 | 352,500 | 10,000 | 2.8% | 17,800 | 5.0% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
From June 2020 to June 2021, the VEC estimates that establishments in Virginia gained 190,400 jobs, an increase of 5.1%. In June, the private sector recorded an over-the-year gain of 179,900 jobs, while employment in the public sector gained 10,500 jobs.
Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, ten of eleven major industry divisions experienced employment increases. The largest over-the-year job gain occurred in leisure and hospitality, up 67,200 jobs (+25.5%). The next largest over-the-year job gain occurred in trade and transportation, up 40,100 jobs (+6.5%). Professional and business services experienced the third largest over-the-year job gain of 26,300 jobs (+3.5%). Education and health services employment rose by 22,000 jobs (+4.3%). Government rose by 10,500 jobs (+1.5%). Within government, there were increases in local government employment (+17,800 jobs) and federal government employment (+1,700 jobs). State government experienced a decrease in employment (-9,000 jobs). Other services added 9,900 jobs (+5.8%). Other increases were in manufacturing, up 9,000 jobs (+4.0%); construction, up 6,400 jobs (+3.2%); mining, up 700 jobs (+10.3%); and information, up 600 jobs (0.9%). Finance lost 2,300 jobs (-1.1%) over the year.
Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Area | Employment | May 2021 to | June 2020 to | ||||
June | May | June | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Virginia | 3,894,200 | 3,891,000 | 3,703,800 | 3,200 | 0.1% | 190,400 | 5.1% |
Blacksburg-Christiansburg- | 75,900 | 76,000 | 71,300 | -100 | -0.1% | 4,600 | 6.5% |
Charlottesville MSA | 111,700 | 111,300 | 107,000 | 400 | 0.4% | 4,700 | 4.4% |
Harrisonburg MSA | 67,500 | 67,400 | 63,600 | 100 | 0.1% | 3,900 | 6.1% |
Lynchburg MSA | 99,100 | 99,400 | 97,400 | -300 | -0.3% | 1,700 | 1.7% |
Northern Virginia MSA | 1,466,600 | 1,466,100 | 1,388,700 | 500 | 0.0% | 77,900 | 5.6% |
Richmond MSA | 649,000 | 646,200 | 628,400 | 2,800 | 0.4% | 20,600 | 3.3% |
Roanoke MSA | 158,400 | 158,000 | 149,200 | 400 | 0.3% | 9,200 | 6.2% |
Staunton-Waynesboro MSA | 51,100 | 50,900 | 47,900 | 200 | 0.4% | 3,200 | 6.7% |
Virginia Beach- | 762,400 | 760,300 | 725,000 | 2,100 | 0.3% | 37,400 | 5.2% |
Winchester, | 67,100 | 66,900 | 62,900 | 200 | 0.3% | 4,200 | 6.7% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In June, eight metropolitan areas experienced over-the-month job gains while two experienced losses. The largest absolute job increase occurred in Richmond (+2,800 jobs). The next largest absolute job gain occurred in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+2,100 jobs). The third largest increase occurred in Northern Virginia (+500 jobs). Charlottesville and Roanoke both added 400 jobs over-the-month while Staunton-Waynesboro and Winchester added 200 jobs each. Harrisonburg saw an increase of 100 jobs. Lynchburg experienced the largest absolute job loss, down 300 jobs, while Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford lost 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 77,900 jobs (+5.6%). Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News ranked second with a gain of 37,400 jobs (+5.2%). Richmond ranked third, with a gain of 20,600 jobs (+3.3%). Other over-the-year job gains occurred in Roanoke (+9,200 jobs), Charlottesville (+4,700 jobs), Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+4,600 jobs), Winchester (+4,200 jobs), Harrisonburg (+3,900 jobs), Staunton-Waynesboro (+3,200 jobs), and Lynchburg (+1,700 jobs).
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points in June to 4.5 percent, and was down 4.4 percentage points from a year ago. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed decreased by 194,752, household employment increased by 125,391, and the labor force decreased by 69,361. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national unadjusted rate, which rose by 0.6 of a percentage point in June to 6.1 percent.
Compared to last month, the June unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 156,900 manufacturing production workers increased by 0.1 hours to 42.1 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers increased by $.31 to $20.96 in June and average weekly earnings increased $15.12 to $882.42.
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 June, refer to the BLS June 2021 Employment Situation press release for details.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of June 6-12, 2021.
The Virginia Employment Commission plans to release the June local area unemployment rates on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. The data will be available on our website www.VirginiaWorks.com. The July statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Friday, August 20, 2021.
Files detailing June's unemployment numbers are available below:
