August 29, 2024
Virginia’s July County and Area Employment Figures Released
~ Over-the-Year Unemployment Rates Increased in Most of Virginia’s Counties1 and Metropolitan Statistical Areas ~
RICHMOND— Virginia Works (the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement) announced today that, compared to a year earlier, July 2024 unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 127 of Virginia's 133 counties and cities, decreased in five, and remained unchanged in one. In July, Highland County had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.1 percent, while Danville city had the highest at 6.2 percent. The employment estimates in this release are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.
Among the metro areas, Winchester had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.9 percent, while Lynchburg had the highest at 4.0 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.3 percent, a 0.4 percentage point increase from a year earlier and 1.2 points lower than the national rate. The July 2024 local unemployment rates are online accompanying this release. You can also access the local unemployment rates by visiting VirginiaWorks.com.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of July 7-13, 2024.
1 The Commonwealth of Virginia is divided into 95 counties, along with 38 independent cities that are considered county-equivalents for census purposes.