July 22, 2022
Timothy Aylor
Senior Economist
Economic Information & Analytics Division
timothy.aylor@vec.virginia.gov
(804) 786-3976
Virginia’s June Unemployment Rate Decreased to 2.8 Percent; Labor Force Participation Rate Unchanged at 63.8% and Employed Virginians Rose by 13,792
RICHMOND— Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased in June to 2.8 percent, which is 1.2 percentage points below the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in June, the labor force increased by 6,250 to 4,353,465 as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 7,542 to 121,273. The number of employed residents rose by 13,792 to 4,232,192. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which was unchanged at 3.6 percent.
The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate was unchanged at 63.8 percent in June. 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, fell by 2,700 jobs in June to 4,045,100. May’s preliminary estimate was revised up by 3,400, adding to that month’s job gain. In June, private sector employment increased by 12,800 jobs to 3,340,700 while public sector employment declined by 15,500 to 704,400. Decreases within that sector occurred in local government (-7,800 jobs), federal government (-4,500 jobs), and state government employment (-3,200 jobs).
Employment rose in nine of eleven major industry sectors and declined in two. The largest job gain during June occurred in leisure and hospitality employment, with an increase of 3,400 jobs to 411,100. The second largest increase occurred in education and health services (+3,000 jobs) to 559,600. Finance was third, with a gain of 1,900 jobs, rising to 208,100. Other increases included trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,800 jobs) to 663,800, professional and business services (+1,600 jobs) to 790,700, construction (+1,100 jobs) to 206,100, information (+1,100 jobs) to 69,200, manufacturing (+300 jobs) 237,500, and Mining and Logging (+100 jobs) to 7,400. The largest job loss during June occurred in government (-15,500 jobs) to 704,400. The second largest decrease occurred in miscellaneous, with a decrease of 1,500 jobs to 187,200.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
Industry | Employment | May 2022 to | June 2021 to | ||||
June | May | June | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Total Nonfarm | 4,045,100 | 4,047,800 | 3,921,700 | -2,700 | -0.1% | 123,400 | 3.1% |
Total Private Sector | 3,340,700 | 3,327,900 | 3,215,000 | 12,800 | 0.4% | 125,700 | 3.9% |
Goods-Producing | 451,000 | 449,500 | 445,900 | 1,500 | 0.3% | 5,100 | 1.1% |
Mining | 7,400 | 7,300 | 7,000 | 100 | 1.4% | 400 | 5.7% |
Construction | 206,100 | 205,000 | 205,600 | 1,100 | 0.5% | 500 | 0.2% |
Manufacturing | 237,500 | 237,200 | 233,300 | 300 | 0.1% | 4,200 | 1.8% |
Service-Providing | 3,594,100 | 3,598,300 | 3,475,800 | -4,200 | -0.1% | 118,300 | 3.4% |
Private Service-Providing | 2,889,700 | 2,878,400 | 2,769,100 | 11,300 | 0.4% | 120,600 | 4.4% |
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 663,800 | 662,000 | 654,600 | 1,800 | 0.3% | 9,200 | 1.4% |
Information | 69,200 | 68,100 | 66,000 | 1,100 | 1.6% | 3,200 | 4.8% |
Finance | 208,100 | 206,200 | 209,400 | 1,900 | 0.9% | -1,300 | -0.6% |
Professional and Business Services | 790,700 | 789,100 | 774,300 | 1,600 | 0.2% | 16,400 | 2.1% |
Education and Health Services | 559,600 | 556,600 | 533,400 | 3,000 | 0.5% | 26,200 | 4.9% |
Leisure and Hospitality Services | 411,100 | 407,700 | 348,800 | 3,400 | 0.8% | 62,300 | 17.9% |
Miscellaneous Services | 187,200 | 188,700 | 182,600 | -1,500 | -0.8% | 4,600 | 2.5% |
Government | 704,400 | 719,900 | 706,700 | -15,500 | -2.2% | -2,300 | -0.3% |
Federal Government | 182,300 | 186,800 | 186,500 | -4,500 | -2.4% | -4,200 | -2.3% |
State Government | 153,700 | 156,900 | 152,800 | -3,200 | -2.0% | 900 | 0.6% |
Local Government | 368,400 | 376,200 | 367,400 | -7,800 | -2.1% | 1,000 | 0.3% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
From June 2021 to June 2022, the VEC estimates that establishments in Virginia gained 123,400 jobs, an increase of 3.1%. In June, the private sector recorded an over-the-year gain of 125,700 jobs, while employment in the public sector decreased 2,300 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 62,300 jobs (+17.9%). The second-largest over-the-year job gain occurred in education and health services, up 26,200 jobs (+4.9%). The third largest over-the-year job gain occurred in professional and business services, up 16,400 jobs (+2.1%). Other job gains occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities (+9,200 jobs), miscellaneous services (+4,600 jobs), manufacturing (+4,200 jobs), information (+3,200 jobs), construction (+500 jobs), and mining and logging (+400 jobs).
The job losses occurred in government (-2,300 jobs) and finance, with a decrease of 1,300 jobs. Within government, local government (+1,000 jobs) and state government (+900 jobs) both gained jobs over the year while federal government saw a decrease in employment (-4,200 jobs).
Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Area | Employment | May 2022 to | June 2021 to | ||||
June | May | June | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Virginia | 4,045,100 | 4,047,800 | 3,921,700 | -2,700 | -0.1% | 123,400 | 3.1% |
Blacksburg-Christiansburg- | 80,800 | 81,300 | 74,700 | -500 | -0.6% | 6,100 | 8.2% |
Charlottesville MSA | 118,100 | 118,300 | 115,100 | -200 | -0.2% | 3,000 | 2.6% |
Harrisonburg MSA | 69,700 | 70,700 | 68,000 | -1,000 | -1.4% | 1,700 | 2.5% |
Lynchburg MSA | 104,000 | 103,500 | 101,100 | 500 | 0.5% | 2,900 | 2.9% |
Northern Virginia MSA | 1,526,800 | 1,522,900 | 1,481,000 | 3,900 | 0.3% | 45,800 | 3.1% |
Richmond MSA | 678,300 | 676,800 | 662,500 | 1,500 | 0.2% | 15,800 | 2.4% |
Roanoke MSA | 158,800 | 160,000 | 157,200 | -1,200 | -0.7% | 1,600 | 1.0% |
Staunton-Waynesboro MSA | 50,900 | 51,300 | 49,600 | -400 | -0.8% | 1,300 | 2.6% |
Virginia Beach- | 774,700 | 778,600 | 766,400 | -3,900 | -0.5% | 8,300 | 1.1% |
Winchester, | 68,000 | 68,700 | 66,800 | -700 | -1.0% | 1,200 | 1.8% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In June, three metropolitan areas experienced over-the-month job gains while seven experienced declines. The largest absolute job increase occurred in Northern Virginia (+3,900 jobs). The next largest absolute job gain occurred in Richmond (+1,500 jobs). The third largest increase occurred in Lynchburg (+500 jobs). The largest absolute job decreased occurred in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (-3,900 jobs). The next largest absolute job loss occurred in Roanoke (-1,200 jobs). The third largest decrease occurred in Harrisonburg (-1,000 jobs). Other over-the-month job losses occurred in Winchester (-700 jobs), Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (-500), Staunton-Waynesboro (-400 jobs), and Charlottesville (-200 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 45,800 jobs. Richmond was next, with a gain of 15,800 jobs. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News was third, with a gain of 8,300 jobs. Other over-the-year job gains occurred in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+6,100 jobs), Charlottesville (+3,000 jobs), Lynchburg (+2,900 jobs), Harrisonburg (+1,700 jobs), Roanoke (+1,600 jobs), Staunton-Waynesboro (+1,300 jobs), and Winchester (+1,200 jobs).
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point in June to 2.9 percent. This is 1.6 percentage points lower than the rate from a year ago. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed decreased by 67,335, household employment increased by 148,544, and the labor force increased by 81,209. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national unadjusted rate, which increased by 0.4 of a percentage point in June to 3.8 percent.
Compared to last month, the June unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 155,392 manufacturing production workers decreased by 0.6 of an hour to 41.2 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers held steady at $21.72 in June and average weekly earnings decreased by $12.62 to $894.86.
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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 June 2022 Employment Situation press release for details.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of June 12-18, 2022.
The Virginia Employment Commission plans to release the June local area unemployment rates on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. The data will be available on our website www.VirginiaWorks.com. The July 2022 statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Friday, August 19, 2022.
Files detailing June's unemployment numbers are available below:
