For Release:
October 21, 2022
Contact:
Conrad Buckler
Economist
Economic Information & Analytics Division
LMI@virginiaworks.gov
(804) 786-8264 or (804) 786-7496

Virginia’s September Unemployment Rate Held Steady at 2.6 Percent; The Labor Force Participation Rate Decreased to 63.6% and Employed Virginians Rose by 993

RICHMOND— Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady in September at 2.6 percent, which is 0.8 percentage points below the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in September, the labor force increased by 108 to 4,346,936, as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 885 to 113,220. The number of employed residents rose by 993 to 4,233,716. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which declined 0.2 percentage point to 3.5 percent. The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate decreased by 0.1 of a percentage point to 63.6 percent in September. 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 8,000 jobs in September to 4,093,600. August’s preliminary estimate was revised upward by 300, adding to that month’s job gain. In September, private sector employment increased by 7,000 jobs to 3,367,800, while public sector employment increased 1,000 to end at 725,800. Increases within that sector occurred in state government employment (+800 jobs), federal government (+200 jobs), and local government held steady.

Employment rose in nine of eleven major industry sectors and declined in two. The largest job gain during September occurred in Construction, with an increase of 3,300 jobs to 209,100. The second largest increase occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,400 jobs) to 673,900. Professional and Business Services was third, with a gain of 1,600 jobs, rising to 796,300. Other increases included Education and Health Services (+1,000) to 568,900; Government (+1,000) to 725,800; Manufacturing (+900) to 240,400; Information (+800) to 70,500; Miscellaneous Services (+400) to 188,400; and Financial Services (+300) to 206,200.

The largest job loss during September occurred in Leisure and Hospitality (-3,500 jobs) to 406,800. The remaining loss was in Mining and Logging, with a decrease of 200 jobs to 7,300.

Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted

Industry

Employment

August 2022 to
September 2022

September 2021 to
September 2022

September
2022

August
2022

September
2021

Change

% Change

Change

% Change

Total Nonfarm

4,093,600

4,085,600

3,958,900

8,000

0.2%

134,700

3.4%

Total Private Sector

3,367,800

3,360,800

3,248,100

7,000

0.2%

119,700

3.7%

Goods-Producing

456,800

452,800

449,300

4,000

0.9%

7,500

1.7%

   Mining

7,300

7,500

6,900

-200

-2.7%

400

5.8%

   Construction

209,100

205,800

205,400

3,300

1.6%

3,700

1.8%

   Manufacturing

240,400

239,500

237,000

900

0.4%

3,400

1.4%

Service-Providing

3,636,800

3,632,800

3,509,600

4,000

0.1%

127,200

3.6%

  Private Service-Providing

2,911,000

2,908,000

2,798,800

3,000

0.1%

112,200

4.0%

   Trade, Transportation, and Utilities

673,900

671,500

654,600

2,400

0.4%

19,300

2.9%

   Information

70,500

69,700

66,000

800

1.1%

4,500

6.8%

   Finance

206,200

205,900

210,400

300

0.1%

-4,200

-2.0%

   Professional and Business Services

796,300

794,700

778,700

1,600

0.2%

17,600

2.3%

   Education and Health Services

568,900

567,900

534,100

1,000

0.2%

34,800

6.5%

   Leisure and Hospitality Services

406,800

410,300

370,800

-3,500

-0.9%

36,000

9.7%

   Miscellaneous Services

188,400

188,000

184,200

400

0.2%

4,200

2.3%

  Government

725,800

724,800

710,800

1,000

0.1%

15,000

2.1%

   Federal Government

188,000

187,800

186,800

200

0.1%

1,200

0.6%

   State Government

157,400

156,600

153,000

800

0.5%

4,400

2.9%

   Local Government

380,400

380,400

371,000

0

0.0%

9,400

2.5%

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

From September 2021 to September 2022, the VEC estimates that establishments in Virginia gained 134,700 jobs, an increase of 3.4%. In September, the private sector recorded an over-the-year gain of 119,700 jobs, while employment in the public sector gained 15,000 jobs.

Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, ten of eleven major industry divisions experienced employment increases while one saw an employment decrease. The largest over-the-year job gain occurred in Leisure and Hospitality, up 36,000 jobs (+9.7%). The second-largest over-the-year job gain occurred in Education and Health Services, up 34,800 jobs (+6.5%). The third largest over-the-year job gain occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, up 19,300 jobs (+2.9%). Other job gains occurred in Professional and Business Services (+17,600 jobs); Government (+15,000 jobs); Information (+4,500); Miscellaneous (+4,200 jobs); Construction (+3,700 jobs); Manufacturing (+3,400); and Mining and Logging (+400 jobs). Within Government, Local (+9,400 jobs), State (+4,400 jobs), and Federal employment increased (+1,200 jobs). The only job losses occurred in Finance (-4,200 jobs) to 206,200.

Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*

Area

Employment

August 2022 to
September 2022

September 2021 to
September 2022

September
2022

August
2022

September
2021

Change

% Change

Change

% Change

Virginia

4,093,600

4,085,600

3,958,900

8,000

0.2%

134,700

3.4%

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-
Radford MSA

82,400

81,900

80,200

500

0.6%

2,200

2.7%

Charlottesville MSA

120,200

119,400

115,700

800

0.7%

4,500

3.9%

Harrisonburg MSA

69,400

70,300

68,200

-900

-1.3%

1,200

1.8%

Lynchburg MSA

104,800

104,500

101,400

300

0.3%

3,400

3.4%

Northern Virginia MSA

1,532,400

1,533,000

1,494,000

-600

0.0%

38,400

2.6%

Richmond MSA

681,800

679,800

670,900

2,000

0.3%

10,900

1.6%

Roanoke MSA

160,300

160,200

157,700

100

0.1%

2,600

1.6%

Staunton-Waynesboro MSA

51,400

51,700

50,000

-300

-0.6%

1,400

2.8%

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

789,600

786,900

771,100

2,700

0.3%

18,500

2.4%

Winchester,
Virginia/West Virginia MSA

68,500

68,400

67,300

100

0.1%

1,200

1.8%

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In September, seven metropolitan areas experienced over-the-month job gains while three saw an employment decrease. The largest absolute job increase occurred in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+2,700 jobs). The next largest absolute job gain occurred in Richmond (+2,000 jobs). The third largest increase occurred in Charlottesville (+800 jobs). Other over-the-month job gains occurred in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+500), Lynchburg (+300 jobs), Roanoke and Winchester (+100 jobs). The largest decrease was in Harrisonburg (-900). The second largest decrease was in Northern Virginia (-300 jobs). The third largest was Staunton-Waynesboro (-300).

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 38,400 jobs (+2.6%). Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News was next, with a gain of 18,500 jobs. Richmond was third, with a gain of 10,900 jobs. Other over-the-year job gains occurred in Charlottesville (+4,500 jobs), Lynchburg (+3,400 jobs), Roanoke (+2,600 jobs), Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+2,200 jobs), Staunton-Waynesboro (+1,400 jobs), Harrisonburg and Winchester (+1,200 jobs).

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.6 of a percentage point in September to 2.6 percent. This is 0.8 percentage point lower than the rate from a year ago. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed decreased by 32,141, household employment increased by 134,992, and the labor force increased by 102,851. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national unadjusted rate, which decreased 0.5 percentage point in September to 3.3 percent.

Compared to last month, the September unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 156,100 manufacturing production workers increased by 0.1 hour to 43.0 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers increased $0.45 to be $22.56 in September and average weekly earnings increased by $21.56 to $970.08.

###

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 September 2022 Employment Situation press release for details.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of September 11-17, 2022.

The Virginia Employment Commission plans to release the September local area unemployment rates on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. The data will be available on our website www.VirginiaWorks.com. The October 2022 statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Friday, November 18, 2022.


Files detailing September's unemployment numbers are available below: