For Release:
October 22, 2024
October 22, 2024
Virginia’s September’s Unemployment Rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 2.9 percent
~ Labor Force Participation Rate remained unchanged at 66.0 percent and Employment decreased by 317 to 4,440,179 ~
RICHMOND — Virginia Works – the Commonwealth’s Department of Workforce Development and Advancement – today announced that Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September increased by 0.1 percentage points to 2.9 percent, which is the same as the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in September, the labor force increased by 2,677 to 4,571,505 as the number of unemployed residents increased by 2,994 to 131,326. The number of employed residents decreased by 317 to 4,440,179. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate, which decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.1 percent.
The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate remained unchanged at 66.0 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.
In September, Virginia’s nonagricultural employment, from the monthly establishment survey increased by 2,100 to 4,250,900. August’s preliminary estimate of employment, after revision, increased by 7,700 to 4,248,800. In September, private sector employment increased by 1,200 to 3,506,100 while government employment increased by 900 to 744,800. Within that sector, federal government jobs decreased by 1,100 to 190,800, state government employment increased by 1,800 to 164,300, and local government increased by 200 to 389,700 over the month.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for eleven industry sectors. In September, six experienced over-the-month job gains, and five experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Leisure and Hospitality (+2,200) to 423,300. The second largest job gain occurred in Professional and Business Services (+1,100) to 820,900. The third largest job gain occurred in Government (+900) to 744,800. The other gains were in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+700) to 678,100; Financial Activities (+200) to 220,400; and Mining and Logging (+100) to 7,300.
The largest job loss occurred in Information (-1,100) to 69,800. The second largest job loss occurred in Education and Health Services (-900) to 605,400. The third largest job loss occurred in Manufacturing (-800) to 248,700. The other losses were in Miscellaneous Services (-200) to 204,300 and Construction (-100) to 227,900.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
Industry | Employment | August 2024 to | September 2023 to | ||||
September | August | September | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Total Nonfarm | 4,250,900 | 4,248,800 | 4,187,400 | 2,100 | 0.0% | 63,500 | 1.5% |
Total Private | 3,506,100 | 3,504,900 | 3,449,900 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 56,200 | 1.6% |
Goods Producing | 483,900 | 484,700 | 469,800 | -800 | -0.2% | 14,100 | 3.0% |
Mining and Logging | 7,300 | 7,200 | 7,300 | 100 | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% |
Construction | 227,900 | 228,000 | 216,200 | -100 | -0.0% | 11,700 | 5.4% |
Manufacturing | 248,700 | 249,500 | 246,300 | -800 | -0.3% | 2,400 | 1.0% |
Service-Providing | 3,767,000 | 3,764,100 | 3,717,600 | 2,900 | 0.1% | 49,400 | 1.3% |
Private Service Providing | 3,022,200 | 3,020,200 | 2,980,100 | 2,000 | 0.1% | 42,100 | 1.4% |
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 678,100 | 677,400 | 672,700 | 700 | 0.1% | 5,400 | 0.8% |
Information | 69,800 | 70,900 | 70,300 | -1,100 | -1.6% | -500 | -0.7% |
Financial Activities | 220,400 | 220,200 | 223,100 | 200 | 0.1% | -2,700 | -1.2% |
Professional and Business Services | 820,900 | 819,800 | 809,500 | 1,100 | 0.1% | 11,400 | 1.4% |
Education and Health Services | 605,400 | 606,300 | 588,100 | -900 | -0.1% | 17,300 | 2.9% |
Leisure and Hospitality | 423,300 | 421,100 | 415,800 | 2,200 | 0.5% | 7,500 | 1.8% |
Miscellaneous Services | 204,300 | 204,500 | 200,600 | -200 | -0.1% | 3,700 | 1.8% |
Government | 744,800 | 743,900 | 737,500 | 900 | 0.1% | 7,300 | 1.0% |
Federal Government | 190,800 | 191,900 | 190,300 | -1,100 | -0.6% | 500 | 0.3% |
State Government | 164,300 | 162,500 | 155,100 | 1,800 | 1.1% | 9,200 | 5.9% |
Local Government | 389,700 | 389,500 | 392,100 | 200 | 0.1% | -2,400 | -0.6% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
From September 2023 to September 2024, Virginia Works estimates that total nonfarm employment in Virginia increased by 63,500 to 4,250,900, private sector employment increased by 56,200 to 3,506,100, and government employment increased by 7,300 to 744,800 jobs. Within that sector, federal government jobs increased by 500 to 190,800, state government employment increased by 9,200 to 164,300, and local government decreased by 2,400 to 389,700 over the year.
For the eleven industry sectors in Virginia over the year, eight experienced over-the-year job gains, one remained unchanged, and two experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Education and Health Services (+17,300) to 605,400. The second largest job gain occurred in Construction (+11,700) to 227,900. The third largest job gain occurred in Professional and Business Services (+11,400) to 820,900. The other gains were in Leisure and Hospitality (+7,500) to 423,300; Government (+7,300) to 744,800; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+5,400) to 678,100; Miscellaneous Services (+3,700) to 204,300; and Manufacturing (+2,400) to 248,700.
The largest job loss occurred in Financial Activities (-2,700) to 220,400. The second largest job loss occurred in Information (-500) to 69,800. Mining and Logging remained unchanged.
Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
Area | Employment | August 2024 to | September 2023 to | ||||
September 2024 | August 2024 | September 2023 | Change | % Change | Change | % Change | |
Virginia | 4,250,900 | 4,248,800 | 4,187,400 | 2,100 | 0.0% | 63,500 | 1.5% |
Blacksburg-Christiansburg- | 85,700 | 85,000 | 84,300 | 700 | 0.8% | 1,400 | 1.7% |
Charlottesville MSA | 129,000 | 128,700 | 124,000 | 300 | 0.2% | 5,000 | 4.0% |
Harrisonburg MSA | 71,700 | 73,400 | 71,800 | -1,700 | -2.3% | -100 | -0.1% |
Lynchburg MSA | 105,800 | 105,800 | 104,400 | 0 | 0.0% | 1,400 | 1.3% |
Northern Virginia MSA | 1,591,200 | 1,594,500 | 1,580,800 | -3,300 | -0.2% | 10,400 | 0.7% |
Richmond MSA | 730,700 | 730,200 | 714,200 | 500 | 0.1% | 16,500 | 2.3% |
Roanoke MSA | 168,800 | 168,700 | 165,800 | 100 | 0.1% | 3,000 | 1.8% |
Staunton MSA | 54,200 | 54,300 | 53,800 | -100 | -0.2% | 400 | 0.7% |
Virginia Beach-Norfolk- | 825,800 | 823,600 | 810,000 | 2,200 | 0.3% | 15,800 | 2.0% |
Winchester MSA | 73,100 | 72,900 | 72,100 | 200 | 0.3% | 1,000 | 1.4% |
*Current month's estimates are preliminary.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In September, six experienced over-the-month job gains, one remained unchanged, and three experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+2,200) to 825,800. The second largest job gain occurred in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+700) to 85,700. The third largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+500) to 730,700. The other gains were in Charlottesville (+300) to 129,000, Winchester (+200) to 73,100, and Roanoke (+100) to 168,800.
The largest job loss occurred in Northern Virginia (-3,300) to 1,591,200. The second largest job loss occurred in Harrisonburg (-1,700) to 71,700. The third largest job loss occurred in Staunton (-100) to 54,200. Lynchburg remained unchanged.
Over the year, nine metropolitan areas experienced over-the-year job gains, and one experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+16,500) to 730,700. The second largest job gain occurred in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+15,800) to 825,800. The third largest job gain occurred in Northern Virginia (+10,400) to 1,591,200. The other gains were in Charlottesville (+5,000) to 129,000, Roanoke (+3,000) to 168,800, Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (+1,400) to 85,700, Lynchburg (+1,400) to 105,800, Winchester (+1,000) to 73,100, and Staunton (+400) to 54,200.
The only job loss occurred in Harrisonburg (-100) to 71,700.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points to 3.1 percent in September, which is a 0.1 percentage point increase compared to last year. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed increased by 1,483 to 139,995, household employment increased by 2,408 to 4,427,807, and the labor force increased by 3,891 to 4,567,802. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 0.8 percentage points below the national unadjusted rate, which decreased by 0.5 percentage points to 3.9 percent.
Compared to last month, the September unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 160,400 manufacturing production workers increased by 0.7 to 40.0 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers decreased by $0.01 to $26.94, and average weekly earnings increased by $18.46 to $1,077.60.
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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 September Employment Situation press release for details.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of September 8-14, 2024
Virginia Works plans to release the September local area unemployment rates on Wednesday October 30, 2024. The data will be available on our website www.VirginiaWorks.com. The October 2024 statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Tuesday November 19, 2024.
Files detailing September's unemployment numbers are available below:
