RICHMOND— Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November increased by 0.2 percentage points to 2.9 percent, which is 0.3 percentage points below the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in November, the labor force increased by 9,331 to 4,624,846 as the number of unemployed residents increased by 9,284 to 132,085. The number of employed residents increased by 47 to 4,492,761. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 0.8 percentage points below the national rate, which decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 3.7 percent.

The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 66.9 percent in November. The labor force participation rate measures the proportion of the civilian population age 16 and older that is employed or actively looking for work.

In November, Virginia’s nonagricultural employment, from the monthly establishment survey increased by 6,200 to 4,172,400. October’s preliminary estimate of employment, after revision, increased by 1,700 to 4,166,200. In November, private sector employment increased by 4,200 to 3,429,400 while government employment increased by 2,000 to 743,000. Within that sector, federal government jobs decreased by 200 to 185,700, state government employment increased by 1,300 to 164,800, and local government increased by 900 to 392,500 over the month.  

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for eleven industry sectors. In November, eight experienced over-the-month job gains, one remained unchanged, and two experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Government (+2,000) to 743,000. The second largest job gain occurred in Leisure and Hospitality (+1,300) to 409,700. The third largest job gain occurred in Education and Health Services (+1,100) to 584,900. The other gains were in Construction (+900) to 214,000; Information (+600) to 71,100; Financial Activities (+400) to 217,500; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+400) to 671,100; and Manufacturing (+100) to 246,800.

The largest job loss occurred in Professional and Business Services (-500) to 811,800. The second largest job loss occurred in Mining and Logging (-100) to 7,000. Miscellaneous Services remained unchanged.

Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

From November 2022 to November 2023, the DWDA estimates that total nonfarm employment in Virginia increased by 64,100 to 4,172,400, private sector employment increased by 43,200 to 3,429,400, and government employment increased by 20,900 to 743,000 jobs. Within that sector, federal government jobs decreased by 300 to 185,700, state government employment increased by 10,700 to 164,800, and local government increased by 10,500 to 392,500 over the year.

For the eleven industry sectors in Virginia over the year, nine experienced over-the-year job gains, one remained unchanged, and one experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Government (+20,900) to 743,000. The second largest job gain occurred in Education and Health Services (+17,500) to 584,900. The third largest job gain occurred in Leisure and Hospitality (+8,700) to 409,700. The other gains were in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+5,100) to 671,100; Financial Activities (+3,700) to 217,500; Professional and Business Services (+2,700) to 811,800; Miscellaneous Services (+2,600) to 195,500; Construction (+1,900) to 214,000; and Manufacturing (+1,200) to 246,800. The only job loss occurred in Mining and Logging (-200) to 7,000. Information remained unchanged.

Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In November, five experienced over-the-month job gains, three remained unchanged, and two experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Northern Virginia (+3,700) to 1,575,100. The second largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+2,700) to 718,700. The third largest job gain occurred in Charlottesville (+500) to 126,600. The other gains were in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+400) to 798,200; and Harrisonburg (+100) to 73,500.

The largest job loss occurred in Winchester (-400) to 71,400. The second largest job loss occurred in Lynchburg (-200) to 104,900. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford; Roanoke; and Staunton remained unchanged.

Over the year, nine experienced over-the-year job gains, one remained unchanged, and none experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Northern Virginia (+25,500) to 1,575,100. The second largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+17,400) to 718,700. The third largest job gain occurred in Charlottesville (+4,500) to 126,600. The other gains were in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+4,500) to 798,200; Harrisonburg (+3,000) to 73,500; Roanoke (+2,400) to 166,100; Winchester (+900) to 71,400; Lynchburg (+400) to 104,900; and Staunton (+200) to 53,300.

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford remained unchanged.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 2.9% in November. It has decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 2.9% compared to last year. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed increased by 134 to 133,495, household employment increased by 157,963 to 4,473,873, and the labor force increased by 158,097 to 4,607,368. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 0.6 percentage points below the national unadjusted rate, which decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 3.5%.

Compared to last month, the November unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 161,000 manufacturing production workers decreased by 0.9 to 40.1 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers increased by $0.6 to $25.7, and average weekly earnings increased by $1.47 to $1,030.57.

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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 November Employment Situation press release for details.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of November 12-18, 2023.

Files detailing November's unemployment numbers are available below: