RICHMOND— Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased in November to 2.8 percent, which is a half of a percentage point below the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in November, the labor force decreased by 519 to 4,347,555 as the number of unemployed residents increased by 6,907 to 123,790. The number of employed residents dropped by 7,426 to 4,223,765. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which was unchanged at 3.7 percent.

The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate held steady at 63.6 percent in November. 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 2,200 jobs in November to 4,095,100. October’s preliminary estimate was revised down by 3,700, subtracting from that month’s job gain. In November, private sector employment decreased by 1,500 jobs to 3,367,000 while public sector employment declined by 700 to 728,100. A decrease within that sector occurred in federal government (-1,900 jobs), while local government grew by 700 jobs and state government rose by 500 jobs over the month.

Employment rose in six of eleven major industry sectors and declined in five. The largest job gain during November occurred in education and health services, with an increase of 3,200 jobs to 573,200. The second largest increase occurred in leisure and hospitality (+2,100 jobs) to 406,800. Construction was third, with a gain of 800 jobs, rising to 210,500. Other increases included miscellaneous services (+600 jobs) to 189,600, information (+200 jobs) to 70,700, and mining and logging (+100 jobs) to 7,500. The largest job loss during November occurred in professional and business services (-4,300 jobs) to 792,900. The second largest decrease occurred in manufacturing, with a decrease of 2,200 jobs to 240,500. The third largest loss occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities with a decrease of 1,500 jobs to 670,200. Other losses included government (-700 jobs) to 728,100 and finance (-500 jobs) to 205,100.

Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

From November 2021 to November 2022, the VEC estimates that establishments in Virginia gained 108,300 jobs, an increase of 2.7%. In November, the private sector recorded an over-the-year gain of 96,200 jobs, while employment in the public sector increased by 12,100 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 absolute over-the-year job gain occurred in education and health services up 33,300 jobs (+6.2%). The second largest over-the-year job gain occurred in leisure and hospitality, up 28,400 jobs (+7.5%). The third largest over-the-year job gain occurred in government, up 12,100 jobs (+1.7%). Other job gains occurred in professional and business services (+11,400 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (+9,500 jobs); construction (+6,300 jobs); manufacturing (+5,000 jobs); miscellaneous services (+3,800 jobs); information (+2,700 jobs); and mining and logging (+500 jobs). The only job loss occurred in finance, with a decrease of 4,700 jobs. Within government, local government (+8,200 jobs), state government (+3,800 jobs), and federal government  (+100 jobs) all saw increases in employment.

Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*

*Current month's estimates are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In November, six metropolitan areas experienced over-the-month job gains and four experienced declines. The largest absolute job increase occurred in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+2,800 jobs). The next largest absolute job gain occurred in Roanoke (+600 jobs). The third largest increase occurred in Charlottesville (+400 jobs). Other increases include Harrisonburg and Winchester (+200 jobs apiece), and Staunton-Waynesboro (+100 jobs). The largest absolute job decreases occurred in Northern Virginia and Richmond (-1,900 jobs apiece). Other decreases include Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford and Lynchburg (-100 jobs apiece).

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 30,700 jobs. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News was next, with a gain of 22,900 jobs. Richmond was third, with a gain of 13,100 jobs. Other over-the-year job gains occurred in Charlottesville (+3,200 jobs), Lynchburg (+2,500 jobs), Roanoke (+2,000 jobs), Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford and Winchester                  (+1,400 jobs apiece), Harrisonburg (+1,200 jobs), and Staunton-Waynesboro (+1,100 jobs).

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point in November to 3.0 percent. This is 0.2 of a percentage point higher than the rate from a year ago. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed increased by 8,038, household employment increased by 63,866, and the labor force increased by 71,904. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national unadjusted rate, which was unchanged in November at 3.4 percent.

Compared to last month, the November unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 156,500 manufacturing production workers increased by 0.2 of an hour to 41.9 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers fell by $0.24 to $22.65 in November and average weekly earnings decreased by $5.47 to $949.04.

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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 November 2022 Employment Situation press release for details.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of November 6 -12, 2022.

Files detailing November's unemployment numbers are available below: