RICHMOND— Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady in September at 2.6 percent, which is 0.8 percentage points below the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in September, the labor force increased by 108 to 4,346,936, as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 885 to 113,220. The number of employed residents rose by 993 to 4,233,716. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which declined 0.2 percentage point to 3.5 percent. The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate decreased by 0.1 of a percentage point to 63.6 percent in September. The labor force participation rate measures the proportion of the civilian population age 16 and older that is employed or actively looking for work.

Virginia’s nonagricultural employment, from the monthly establishment survey, rose by 8,000 jobs in September to 4,093,600. August’s preliminary estimate was revised upward by 300, adding to that month’s job gain. In September, private sector employment increased by 7,000 jobs to 3,367,800, while public sector employment increased 1,000 to end at 725,800. Increases within that sector occurred in state government employment (+800 jobs), federal government (+200 jobs), and local government held steady.

Employment rose in nine of eleven major industry sectors and declined in two. The largest job gain during September occurred in Construction, with an increase of 3,300 jobs to 209,100. The second largest increase occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,400 jobs) to 673,900. Professional and Business Services was third, with a gain of 1,600 jobs, rising to 796,300. Other increases included Education and Health Services (+1,000) to 568,900; Government (+1,000) to 725,800; Manufacturing (+900) to 240,400; Information (+800) to 70,500; Miscellaneous Services (+400) to 188,400; and Financial Services (+300) to 206,200.

The largest job loss during September occurred in Leisure and Hospitality (-3,500 jobs) to 406,800. The remaining loss was in Mining and Logging, with a decrease of 200 jobs to 7,300.

Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

From September 2021 to September 2022, the VEC estimates that establishments in Virginia gained 134,700 jobs, an increase of 3.4%. In September, the private sector recorded an over-the-year gain of 119,700 jobs, while employment in the public sector gained 15,000 jobs.

Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, ten of eleven major industry divisions experienced employment increases while one saw an employment decrease. The largest over-the-year job gain occurred in Leisure and Hospitality, up 36,000 jobs (+9.7%). The second-largest over-the-year job gain occurred in Education and Health Services, up 34,800 jobs (+6.5%). The third largest over-the-year job gain occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, up 19,300 jobs (+2.9%). Other job gains occurred in Professional and Business Services (+17,600 jobs); Government (+15,000 jobs); Information (+4,500); Miscellaneous (+4,200 jobs); Construction (+3,700 jobs); Manufacturing (+3,400); and Mining and Logging (+400 jobs). Within Government, Local (+9,400 jobs), State (+4,400 jobs), and Federal employment increased (+1,200 jobs). The only job losses occurred in Finance (-4,200 jobs) to 206,200.

Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In September, seven metropolitan areas experienced over-the-month job gains while three saw an employment decrease. The largest absolute job increase occurred in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+2,700 jobs). The next largest absolute job gain occurred in Richmond (+2,000 jobs). The third largest increase occurred in Charlottesville (+800 jobs). Other over-the-month job gains occurred in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+500), Lynchburg (+300 jobs), Roanoke and Winchester (+100 jobs). The largest decrease was in Harrisonburg (-900). The second largest decrease was in Northern Virginia (-300 jobs). The third largest was Staunton-Waynesboro (-300).

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 38,400 jobs (+2.6%). Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News was next, with a gain of 18,500 jobs. Richmond was third, with a gain of 10,900 jobs. Other over-the-year job gains occurred in Charlottesville (+4,500 jobs), Lynchburg (+3,400 jobs), Roanoke (+2,600 jobs), Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+2,200 jobs), Staunton-Waynesboro (+1,400 jobs), Harrisonburg and Winchester (+1,200 jobs).

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.6 of a percentage point in September to 2.6 percent. This is 0.8 percentage point lower than the rate from a year ago. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed decreased by 32,141, household employment increased by 134,992, and the labor force increased by 102,851. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national unadjusted rate, which decreased 0.5 percentage point in September to 3.3 percent.

Compared to last month, the September unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 156,100 manufacturing production workers increased by 0.1 hour to 43.0 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers increased $0.45 to be $22.56 in September and average weekly earnings increased by $21.56 to $970.08.

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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 2020, refer to the BLS September 2022 Employment Situation press release for details.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of September 11-17, 2022.

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Files detailing September's unemployment numbers are available below: