RICHMOND— Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage point in July to 2.7 percent, which is 1.1 percentage points below the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in July, the labor force decreased by 1,015 to 4,354,174, as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 6,880 to 116,040. The number of employed residents rose by 5,865 to 4,238,134. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which declined 0.1 percentage point to 3.5 percent. The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate decreased by 0.1 of a percentage point to 63.8 percent in July. 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, rose by 20,600 jobs in July to 4,070,800. June’s preliminary estimate was revised upward by 5,100, adding to that month’s job gain. In July, private sector employment increased by 13,800 jobs to 3,358,300, while public sector employment increased 6,800 to end at 712,500. Increases within that sector occurred in federal government employment (+5,400 jobs), local government (+1,400 jobs), and state government held steady. Employment rose in eight of eleven major industry sectors, and declined in three. The largest job gain during July occurred in Government employment, with an increase of 6,800 jobs to 712,500. The second largest increase occurred in Education and Health Services (+4,800 jobs) to 566,600. Leisure and Hospitality was third, with a gain of 4,000 jobs, rising to 415,900. Other increases included Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,900) to 668,400; Professional and Business Services (+2,100) to 793,800; Information (+600 jobs) to 69,600; Construction (+400) to 206,100; and Mining and Logging (+100 jobs) to 7,500.

The largest job loss during July occurred in Finance (-500 jobs) to 206,800. The second largest decrease occurred in Miscellaneous Services, with a decrease of 400 jobs to 186,200. The remaining loss was in Manufacturing, with a decrease of 200 jobs to 237,400.

Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

From July 2021 to July 2022, the VEC estimates that establishments in Virginia gained 120,400 jobs, an increase of 3.0%. In July, the private sector recorded an over-the-year gain of 111,000 jobs, while employment in the public sector gained 9,400 jobs.

Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, nine of eleven major industry divisions experienced employment increases while one saw an employment decrease and Construction held steady at 206,100. The largest over-the-year job gain occurred in Leisure and Hospitality, up 49,500 jobs (+13.5%). The second-largest over-the-year job gain occurred in Education and Health Services, up 27,600 jobs (+5.1%). The third largest over-the-year job gain occurred in Professional and Business Services up 16,100 jobs (+2.1%). Other job gains occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+13,300 jobs); Government (+9,400); Information (+3,600); Miscellaneous (+2,500 jobs); Manufacturing (+1,000 jobs); and Mining and Logging (+500 jobs). Within Government, Local (+6,800 jobs), State (+1,500 jobs), and Federal employment increased (+1,100 jobs). The only job losses occurred in Finance (-3,100 jobs) to 206,800.

Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In July, eight metropolitan areas experienced over-the-month job gains while Harrisonburg and Lynchburg held steady. The largest absolute job increase occurred in Northern Virginia (+6,600 jobs). The next largest absolute job gain occurred in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+5,700 jobs). The third largest increase occurred in Roanoke (+1,500 jobs). Other over-the-month job gains occurred in Richmond (+800), Charlottesville (+400 jobs), Winchester (+300 jobs), Staunton-Waynesboro (+200), and Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+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 44,800 jobs (+3.0%). Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News was next, with a gain of 11,700 jobs. Richmond was third, with a gain of 7,200 jobs. Other over-the-year job gains occurred in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+3,200 jobs), Lynchburg (+2,900 jobs), Roanoke (+2,600 jobs), Charlottesville (+2,500 jobs), Winchester (+1,400 jobs), Harrisonburg and Staunton-Waynesboro (+1,300 jobs).

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point in July to 2.9 percent. This is 1.3 percentage points lower than the rate from a year ago. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed decreased by 52,103, household employment increased by 117,455, and the labor force increased by 65,352. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national unadjusted rate, which held steady in July at 3.8 percent.

Compared to last month, the July unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 155,600 manufacturing production workers increased by 0.9 hour to 42.2 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers increased $0.24 to be $21.95 in July and average weekly earnings increased by $29.67 to $926.29.

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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 July 10-16, 2022.

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Files detailing July's unemployment numbers are available below: