Virginia’s November’s Unemployment Rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 2.9%; Labor Force Participation Rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 66.9% and Employment increased by 47 to 4,492,761

RICHMOND— Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November increased by 0.2 percentage points to 2.9 percent, which is 0.3 percentage points below the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in November, the labor force increased by 9,331 to 4,624,846 as the number of unemployed residents increased by 9,284 to 132,085. The number of employed residents increased by 47 to 4,492,761. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 0.8 percentage points below the national rate, which decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 3.7 percent.

The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 66.9 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.

In November, Virginia’s nonagricultural employment, from the monthly establishment survey increased by 6,200 to 4,172,400. October’s preliminary estimate of employment, after revision, increased by 1,700 to 4,166,200. In November, private sector employment increased by 4,200 to 3,429,400 while government employment increased by 2,000 to 743,000. Within that sector, federal government jobs decreased by 200 to 185,700, state government employment increased by 1,300 to 164,800, and local government increased by 900 to 392,500 over the month.  

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for eleven industry sectors. In November, eight experienced over-the-month job gains, one remained unchanged, and two experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Government (+2,000) to 743,000. The second largest job gain occurred in Leisure and Hospitality (+1,300) to 409,700. The third largest job gain occurred in Education and Health Services (+1,100) to 584,900. The other gains were in Construction (+900) to 214,000; Information (+600) to 71,100; Financial Activities (+400) to 217,500; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+400) to 671,100; and Manufacturing (+100) to 246,800.

The largest job loss occurred in Professional and Business Services (-500) to 811,800. The second largest job loss occurred in Mining and Logging (-100) to 7,000. Miscellaneous Services remained unchanged.

Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted

Industry

Employment

October 2023 to
November 2023

November 2022 to
November 2023

November
2023

October
2023

November
2022

Change

% Change

Change

% Change

Total Nonfarm

4,172,400

4,166,200

4,108,300

6,200

0.1%

64,100

1.6%

Total Private

3,429,400

3,425,200

3,386,200

4,200

0.1%

43,200

1.3%

Goods Producing

467,800

466,900

464,900

900

0.2%

2,900

0.6%

Mining and Logging

7,000

7,100

7,200

-100

-1.4%

-200

-2.8%

Construction

214,000

213,100

212,100

900

0.4%

1,900

0.9%

Manufacturing

246,800

246,700

245,600

100

0.0%

1,200

0.5%

Service-Providing

3,704,600

3,699,300

3,643,400

5,300

0.1%

61,200

1.7%

Private Service Providing

2,961,600

2,958,300

2,921,300

3,300

0.1%

40,300

1.4%

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities

671,100

670,700

666,000

400

0.1%

5,100

0.8%

Information

71,100

70,500

71,100

600

0.9%

0

0.0%

Financial Activities

217,500

217,100

213,800

400

0.2%

3,700

1.7%

Professional and Business Services

811,800

812,300

809,100

-500

-0.1%

2,700

0.3%

Education and Health Services

584,900

583,800

567,400

1,100

0.2%

17,500

3.1%

Leisure and Hospitality

409,700

408,400

401,000

1,300

0.3%

8,700

2.2%

Miscellaneous Services

195,500

195,500

192,900

0

0.0%

2,600

1.3%

Government

743,000

741,000

722,100

2,000

0.3%

20,900

2.9%

Federal Government

185,700

185,900

186,000

-200

-0.1%

-300

-0.2%

State Government

164,800

163,500

154,100

1,300

0.8%

10,700

6.9%

Local Government

392,500

391,600

382,000

900

0.2%

10,500

2.7%

*Current month’s estimates are preliminary.

From November 2022 to November 2023, the DWDA estimates that total nonfarm employment in Virginia increased by 64,100 to 4,172,400, private sector employment increased by 43,200 to 3,429,400, and government employment increased by 20,900 to 743,000 jobs. Within that sector, federal government jobs decreased by 300 to 185,700, state government employment increased by 10,700 to 164,800, and local government increased by 10,500 to 392,500 over the year.

For the eleven industry sectors in Virginia over the year, nine experienced over-the-year job gains, one remained unchanged, and one experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Government (+20,900) to 743,000. The second largest job gain occurred in Education and Health Services (+17,500) to 584,900. The third largest job gain occurred in Leisure and Hospitality (+8,700) to 409,700. The other gains were in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+5,100) to 671,100; Financial Activities (+3,700) to 217,500; Professional and Business Services (+2,700) to 811,800; Miscellaneous Services (+2,600) to 195,500; Construction (+1,900) to 214,000; and Manufacturing (+1,200) to 246,800. The only job loss occurred in Mining and Logging (-200) to 7,000. Information remained unchanged.

Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted

Area

Employment

October 2023 to
November 2023

November 2022 to
November 2023

November
2023

October
2023

November
2022

Change

% Change

Change

% Change

Virginia

4,172,400

4,166,200

4,108,300

6,200

0.1%

64,100

1.6%

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-
Radford MSA

81,900

81,900

81,900

0

0.0%

0

0.0%

Charlottesville MSA

126,600

126,100

122,100

500

0.4%

4,500

3.7%

Harrisonburg MSA

73,500

73,400

70,500

100

0.1%

3,000

4.3%

Lynchburg MSA

104,900

105,100

104,500

-200

-0.2%

400

0.4%

Northern Virginia MSA

1,575,100

1,571,400

1,549,600

3,700

0.2%

25,500

1.6%

Richmond MSA

718,700

716,000

701,300

2,700

0.4%

17,400

2.5%

Roanoke MSA

166,100

166,100

163,700

0

0.0%

2,400

1.5%

Staunton MSA

53,300

53,300

53,100

0

0.0%

200

0.4%

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-
Newport News MSA

798,200

797,800

793,700

400

0.1%

4,500

0.6%

Winchester MSA

71,400

71,800

70,500

-400

-0.6%

900

1.3%

*Current month’s estimates are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In November, five experienced over-the-month job gains, three remained unchanged, and two experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Northern Virginia (+3,700) to 1,575,100. The second largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+2,700) to 718,700. The third largest job gain occurred in Charlottesville (+500) to 126,600. The other gains were in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+400) to 798,200; and Harrisonburg (+100) to 73,500.

The largest job loss occurred in Winchester (-400) to 71,400. The second largest job loss occurred in Lynchburg (-200) to 104,900. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford; Roanoke; and Staunton remained unchanged.

Over the year, nine experienced over-the-year job gains, one remained unchanged, and none experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Northern Virginia (+25,500) to 1,575,100. The second largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+17,400) to 718,700. The third largest job gain occurred in Charlottesville (+4,500) to 126,600. The other gains were in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+4,500) to 798,200; Harrisonburg (+3,000) to 73,500; Roanoke (+2,400) to 166,100; Winchester (+900) to 71,400; Lynchburg (+400) to 104,900; and Staunton (+200) to 53,300.

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford remained unchanged.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Data

Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 2.9% in November. It has decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 2.9% compared to last year. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed increased by 134 to 133,495, household employment increased by 157,963 to 4,473,873, and the labor force increased by 158,097 to 4,607,368. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 0.6 percentage points below the national unadjusted rate, which decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 3.5%.

Compared to last month, the November unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 161,000 manufacturing production workers decreased by 0.9 to 40.1 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers increased by $0.6 to $25.7, and average weekly earnings increased by $1.47 to $1,030.57.

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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 Employment Situation press release for details.

The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of November 12-18, 2023.

The Department of Workforce Development and Advancement plans to release the November local area unemployment rates on Thursday, January 4, 2024. The data will be available on our website www.VirginiaWorks.com. The December 2023 statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.


Files detailing November’s unemployment numbers are available below:


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