For Release:
December 21, 2018
Contact:
Ann Lang
Senior Economist
Economic Information & Analytics Division
(804) 786-3177 or (804) 786-7496

Virginia’s Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate Was Down 0.1 Percentage Point in November to 2.8 Percent

~ Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment was up 6,600 jobs between October 2018 and November 2018 ~

RICHMOND—Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point in November to 2.8 percent and was down 0.8 percentage point from a year ago. November’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.8 percent is the lowest rate since the April 2001 rate of 2.8 percent. The labor force, which expanded for the second consecutive month, added 1,534 for a total of 4,354,945. Household employment increased by 2,323, which was the eleventh consecutive monthly increase, and at 4,230,978, set a new record high. The number of unemployed continued to drop, declining by 789 to 123,967. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which was unchanged at 3.7 percent.

Virginia’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 6,600 jobs in November to 4,031,700, which was the eleventh consecutive monthly increase and a new record high. October’s initially reported gain of 2,700 jobs was revised downward by 2,600 jobs to an over-the-month gain of 100 jobs. The downward revisions were spread across seven major industry divisions. In November, private sector employment increased by 4,000 jobs to 3,331,500, while public sector payrolls increased by 2,600 jobs to 700,200.

From October 2018 to November 2018, seasonally adjusted employment increased in six major industry divisions, decreased in three, and remained unchanged in mining at 8,400 and in construction at 203,600. The largest job gain during November occurred in the total government sector, which increased by 2,600 jobs to 700,200. For total government, the gains occurred in local (+2,300 jobs) and federal (+300 jobs) government employment, while state government employment remained unchanged. The second largest over-the-month gain occurred in private education and health services, with a gain of 2,300 jobs to 548,300. In November, health care and social assistance increased by 1,500 jobs, while private education increased by 800 jobs. Manufacturing experienced the third largest over-the month increase. November’s increase in manufacturing of 1,300 jobs to 244,600 was the sixth consecutive monthly increase. Other employment gains were: 800 jobs each in professional and business services and leisure and hospitality to 753,900 and 416,000, respectively; and 200 jobs in finance to 211,100. The largest job loss during November occurred in information, which decreased by 800 jobs to 65,200. Other employment losses were 500 jobs in trade and transportation to 673,300 and 100 jobs in miscellaneous services to 207,100.  

Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted

Industry

Employment

October 2018 to
November 2018

November 2017 to
November 2018

November
2
018

October
2018

November
2017

Change

% Change

Change

% Change

Total Nonfarm

4,031,700

4,025,100

3,956,600

+6,600

+0.2%

+75,100

+1.9%

Total Private Sector

3,331,500

3,327,500

3,240,300

+4,000

+0.1%

+91,200

+2.8%

Goods-Producing

456,600

455,300

438,600

+1,300

+0.3%

+18,000

+4.1%

   Mining

8,400

8,400

8,200

+0

+0.0%

+200

+2.4%

   Construction

203,600

203,600

196,100

+0

+0.0%

+7,500

+3.8%

   Manufacturing

244,600

243,300

234,300

+1,300

+0.5%

+10,300

+4.4%

Service-Providing

3,575,100

3,569,800

3,518,000

+5,300

+0.1%

+57,100

+1.6%

  Private Service-Providing

2,874,900

2,872,200

2,801,700

+2,700

+0.1%

+73,200

+2.6%

   Trade, Transportation, and Utilities

673,300

673,800

660,100

-500

-0.1%

+13,200

+2.0%

   Information

65,200

66,000

66,600

-800

-1.2%

-1,400

-2.1%

   Finance

211,100

210,900

206,100

+200

+0.1%

+5,000

+2.4%

   Professional and Business Services

753,900

753,100

732,800

+800

+0.1%

+21,100

+2.9%

   Education and Health Services

548,300

546,000

532,000

+2,300

+0.4%

+16,300

+3.1%

   Leisure and Hospitality Services

416,000

415,200

400,100

+800

+0.2%

+15,900

+4.0%

   Miscellaneous Services

207,100

207,200

204,000

-100

-0.0%

+3,100

+1.5%

  Government

700,200

697,600

716,300

+2,600

+0.4%

-16,100

-2.2%

   Federal Government

176,700

176,400

177,900

+300

+0.2%

-1,200

-0.7%

   State Government

159,500

159,500

159,200

+0

+0.0%

+300

+0.2%

   Local Government

364,000

361,700

379,200

+2,300

+0.6%

-15,200

-4.0%

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

From November 2017 to November 2018, Virginia’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment was up 75,100 jobs, or 1.9 percent. Over-the-year employment growth in Virginia has been positive for 56 consecutive months and has continued to strengthen over the last several months. For September and October, Virginia’s over-the-year growth was the same as the national rate, and in November, Virginia’s over-the-year growth rate of 1.9 percent exceeded the national rate of 1.7 percent. In previous months, Virginia’s over-the-year growth had not been as strong as the national rate. In November, the private sector recorded an over-the-year gain of 91,200 jobs, while employment in the public sector declined by 16,100 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 21,100 jobs (+2.9 percent). The next largest over-the-year job gain occurred in private education and health services, up 16,300 jobs (+3.1 percent). Leisure and hospitality experienced the third largest over-the-year job gain, up 15,900 jobs (+4.0 percent). Other gains were in trade and transportation, up 13,200 jobs (+2.0 percent); manufacturing, up 10,300 jobs (+4.4 percent); construction, up 7,500 jobs (+3.8 percent); finance, up 5,000 jobs (+2.4 percent); miscellaneous services, up 3,100 jobs (+1.5 percent); and mining, up 200 jobs (+2.4 percent). Compared to a-year-ago November, total government fell by 16,100 jobs (-2.2 percent), with the losses in local (-15,200 jobs) and federal (-1,200 jobs) government employment outweighing the gain in state government employment (+300 jobs). In addition, employment in information was down 1,400 jobs (-2.1 percent).

Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted

Area

Employment

October 2018 to
November 2018

November 2017 to
November 2018

November2018

October
2018

November
2017

Change

% Change

Change

% Change

Virginia

4,031,700

4,025,100

3,956,600

+6,600

+0.2%

+75,100

+1.9%

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-
Radford MSA

77,800

77,500

75,900

+300

+0.4%

+1,900

+2.5%

Charlottesville MSA

121,300

121,600

117,800

-300

-0.2%

+3,500

+3.0%

Harrisonburg MSA

68,000

68,200

67,400

-200

-0.3%

+600

+0.9%

Lynchburg MSA

106,200

106,000

104,200

+200

+0.2%

+2,000

+1.9%

Northern Virginia MSA

1,487,300

1,483,400

1,471,100

+3,900

+0.3%

+16,200

+1.1%

Richmond MSA

682,100

682,600

670,800

-500

-0.1%

+11,300

+1.7%

Roanoke MSA

163,400

163,300

159,600

+100

+0.1%

+3,800

+2.4%

Staunton-Waynesboro MSA

51,200

51,200

50,000

+0

+0.0%

+1,200

+2.4%

Virginia Beach-
Norfolk-Newport News,
Virginia/North Carolina MSA

791,000

789,700

778,700

+1,300

+0.2%

+12,300

+1.6%

Winchester,
Virginia/West Virginia MSA

65,800

66,000

64,100

-200

-0.3%

+1,700

+2.7%

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In November, five metropolitan areas experienced over-the-month job gains; four experienced losses; and employment in the Staunton-Waynesboro metropolitan area remained unchanged. The largest absolute job gain occurred in Northern Virginia, with a gain of 3,900 jobs. The other metropolitan areas that experienced gains were: Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+1,300 jobs); Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+300 jobs); Lynchburg (+200 jobs); and Roanoke (+100 jobs). The largest absolute job loss occurred in the Richmond metropolitan area, with a loss of 500 jobs.  The other metropolitan areas that experienced losses were Charlottesville (-300 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 16,200 jobs (+1.1 percent). Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News was ranked second, with a gain of 12,300 jobs (+1.6 percent), and Richmond was ranked third, with a gain of 11,300 jobs (+1.7 percent). The other over-the-year job gains occurred in:  Roanoke (+3,800 jobs); Charlottesville (+3,500 jobs); Lynchburg (+2,000 jobs); Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+1,900 jobs); Winchester (+1,700 jobs); Staunton-Waynesboro (+1,200 jobs); and Harrisonburg (+600 jobs). 

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate was down 0.1 percentage point in November to 2.7 percent and was down 0.7 percentage point from a year ago. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed decreased by 29,200, household employment increased by 74,369, and as a result, the labor force rose by 45,169. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national unadjusted rate, which was unchanged in November at 3.5 percent.

Compared to last month, the November unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 174,100 manufacturing production workers increased by 0.3 hour to 41.4 hours, average hourly earnings increased by $0.18 to $19.40, and average weekly earnings increased by $13.22 to $803.16. Compared to last November, the unadjusted workweek decreased by 0.4 hour, average hourly earnings increased by $0.18, and average weekly earnings were lower by $0.24.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of November 11-17, 2018.

The Virginia Employment Commission plans to release the November local area unemployment rates on Thursday, January 3, 2019. The data will be available on our website, www.VirginiaLMI.com.

The December statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Friday, January 18, 2019.

Files detailing November's unemployment numbers are available below: