March 25, 2022
Timothy Aylor
Senior Economist
Economic Information & Analytics Division
LMI@virginiaworks.gov
(804) 786-3976
The Virginia unemployment rate fell to 3.2 percent in February while total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 21,300
RICHMOND— Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.1 of a percentage point in February to 3.2 percent, which is 1.4 percentage points below the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in February, the labor force increased by 14,138 to 4,291,990, as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 3,330 to 136,004. The number of employed residents rose by 17,468 to 4,155,986. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which fell from 4.0 to 3.8 percent. The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate increased slightly by 0.1 of a percentage point to 63.0 percent in February. 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 nonagricultural wage and salary employment, from the monthly establishment survey, rose by 21,300 jobs in February to 4,014,900. January’s preliminary estimate was revised up by 4,100, reducing that month’s job loss. In February, private sector employment increased by 12,400 jobs to 3,299,700 while public sector payrolls increased by 8,900 jobs to 715,200. Much of the increase within that sector occurred in state government (+8,200 jobs), but employment also rose in local government (+1,300 jobs). Federal government employment fell by 600 jobs.
Employment rose in nine of eleven major industry sectors and declined in two. The largest job gain during February occurred in government with an increase of 8,900 jobs to 715,200. The second largest increase occurred in leisure and hospitality (+5,000 jobs) to 393,000. Professional and business services gained 4,800 jobs, rising to 788,000 in February. Other increases included construction (+2,900 jobs) to 207,400, trade and transportation (+2,800 jobs) to 667,300, miscellaneous (+1,500 jobs) to 187,800, manufacturing (+1,100 jobs) to 236,200, finance (+200 jobs) to 207,200, and mining (+100 jobs) to 7,100. The largest job loss during February occurred in education and health services (-5,400 jobs) to 539,000. The second largest decrease occurred in information with a decrease of 600 jobs to 66,700.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
Industry | Employment | January 2022 to | February 2021 to | ||||
February | January | February | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Total Nonfarm | 4,014,900 | 3,993,600 | 3,903,000 | 21,300 | 0.5% | 111,900 | 2.9% |
Total Private Sector | 3,299,700 | 3,287,300 | 3,200,100 | 12,400 | 0.4% | 99,600 | 3.1% |
Goods-Producing | 450,700 | 446,600 | 450,600 | 4,100 | 0.9% | 100 | 0.0% |
Mining | 7,100 | 7,000 | 6,900 | 100 | 1.4% | 200 | 2.9% |
Construction | 207,400 | 204,500 | 205,300 | 2,900 | 1.4% | 2,100 | 1.0% |
Manufacturing | 236,200 | 235,100 | 238,400 | 1,100 | 0.5% | -2,200 | -0.9% |
Service-Providing | 3,564,200 | 3,547,000 | 3,452,400 | 17,200 | 0.5% | 111,800 | 3.2% |
Private Service-Providing | 2,849,000 | 2,840,700 | 2,749,500 | 8,300 | 0.3% | 99,500 | 3.6% |
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 667,300 | 664,500 | 651,700 | 2,800 | 0.4% | 15,600 | 2.4% |
Information | 66,700 | 67,300 | 65,400 | -600 | -0.9% | 1,300 | 2.0% |
Finance | 207,200 | 207,000 | 210,100 | 200 | 0.1% | -2,900 | -1.4% |
Professional and Business Services | 788,000 | 783,200 | 769,700 | 4,800 | 0.6% | 18,300 | 2.4% |
Education and Health Services | 539,000 | 544,400 | 533,000 | -5,400 | -1.0% | 6,000 | 1.1% |
Leisure and Hospitality Services | 393,000 | 388,000 | 337,700 | 5,000 | 1.3% | 55,300 | 16.4% |
Miscellaneous Services | 187,800 | 186,300 | 181,900 | 1,500 | 0.8% | 5,900 | 3.2% |
Government | 715,200 | 706,300 | 702,900 | 8,900 | 1.3% | 12,300 | 1.7% |
Federal Government | 185,400 | 186,000 | 186,700 | -600 | -0.3% | -1,300 | -0.7% |
State Government | 155,200 | 147,000 | 154,200 | 8,200 | 5.6% | 1,000 | 0.6% |
Local Government | 374,600 | 373,300 | 362,000 | 1,300 | 0.3% | 12,600 | 3.5% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
From February 2021 to February 2022, the VEC estimates that establishments in Virginia gained 111,900 jobs, an increase of 2.9%. In February, the private sector recorded an over-the-year gain of 99,600 jobs, while employment in the public sector gained 12,300 jobs.
Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, nine of eleven major industry divisions experienced employment increases while two saw employment decreases. The largest over-the-year job gain occurred in leisure and hospitality, up 55,300 jobs (+16.4%). The next largest over-the-year job gain occurred in professional and business services, up 18,300 jobs (+2.4%). Other job gains occurred in trade and transportation (+15,600 jobs), government (+12,300 jobs), and education and health services (+6,000 jobs). Within government, local (+12,600 jobs) and state government (+1,000 jobs) both gained jobs over the year while federal government saw a decrease in employment (-1,300 jobs). The largest job loss during February occurred in finance (-2,900 jobs) to 207,200. The second largest decrease occurred in manufacturing with a decrease of 2,200 jobs to 236,200.
Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Area | Employment | January2022 to | February 2021 to | ||||
February | January | February | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Virginia | 4,014,900 | 3,993,600 | 3,903,000 | 21,300 | 0.5% | 111,900 | 2.9% |
Blacksburg-Christiansburg- | 81,500 | 80,600 | 75,900 | 900 | 1.1% | 5,600 | 7.4% |
Charlottesville MSA | 118,000 | 117,800 | 113,400 | 200 | 0.2% | 4,600 | 4.1% |
Harrisonburg MSA | 70,100 | 68,200 | 66,300 | 1,900 | 2.8% | 3,800 | 5.7% |
Lynchburg MSA | 102,900 | 102,800 | 100,800 | 100 | 0.1% | 2,100 | 2.1% |
Northern Virginia MSA | 1,514,500 | 1,502,000 | 1,466,100 | 12,500 | 0.8% | 48,400 | 3.3% |
Richmond MSA | 670,700 | 666,400 | 657,000 | 4,300 | 0.6% | 13,700 | 2.1% |
Roanoke MSA | 159,300 | 158,900 | 157,100 | 400 | 0.3% | 2,200 | 1.4% |
Staunton-Waynesboro MSA | 51,400 | 51,000 | 49,500 | 400 | 0.8% | 1,900 | 3.8% |
Virginia Beach- | 777,500 | 774,700 | 765,000 | 2,800 | 0.4% | 12,500 | 1.6% |
Winchester, | 69,100 | 68,300 | 66,200 | 800 | 1.2% | 2,900 | 4.4% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In February, all ten metropolitan areas experienced over-the-month job gains. The largest absolute job increase occurred in Northern Virginia (+12,500 jobs). The next largest absolute job gain occurred in Richmond (+4,300 jobs). The third largest increase occurred in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+2,800 jobs). Harrisonburg added 1,900 jobs. Other over-the-month job gains occurred in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+900 jobs), Winchester (+800 jobs), Roanoke (+400 jobs), Staunton-Waynesboro (+400 jobs), Charlottesville (+200 jobs), and Lynchburg (+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 48,400 jobs (+3.3%). Richmond ranked second, with a gain of 13,700 jobs (+2.1%). Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News ranked third, with a gain of 12,500 jobs (+1.6%). Other over-the-year job gains occurred in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+5,600 jobs), Charlottesville (+4,600 jobs), Harrisonburg (+3,800 jobs), Winchester (+2,900 jobs), Roanoke (+2,200 jobs), Lynchburg (+2,100 jobs), and Staunton-Waynesboro (+1,900 jobs).
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.5 of a percentage point in February to 2.9 percent. This is 1.8 percentage points lower than the rate from a year ago. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed decreased by 76,033, household employment increased by 121,845, and the labor force increased by 45,812. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national unadjusted rate, which decreased by 0.3 of a percentage point in February to 4.1 percent.
Compared to last month, the February unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 152,300 manufacturing production workers increased by 0.4 hours to 40.7 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers increased by $.03 to $21.63 in February and average weekly earnings increased by $9.86 to $880.34.
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 February 2022 Employment Situation press release for details.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of February 6-12, 2022.
The Virginia Employment Commission plans to release the February local area unemployment rates on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. The data will be available on our website www.VirginiaWorks.com. The March 2022 statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Friday, April 15, 2022.
Files detailing February unemployment numbers are available below:
