RICHMOND— Virginia Works announced today that 2,262 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending September 27, 2025, which is 1.6 percent lower than last week’s 2,298 claims and 4.6 percent lower than the comparable week of last year (2,371). Nearly 80 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (62 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (363); Health Care and Social Assistance (217); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (208); Retail Trade (181); and Manufacturing (142).
Continued weeks claims (19,125) were 6.3 percent lower than last week (20,400) and were 24.2 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (15,395). Nearly 92 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (64 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (4,592); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,236); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,648); Retail Trade (1,463); and Manufacturing (1,406).
Significant Layoffs and Announcements are available at the following websites:
Virginia Continued Weeks Claimed as a Percentage of Total Workforce
A person who has already filed an initial claim and who has experienced a week of unemployment files a continued claim to claim benefits for that week of unemployment. On a weekly basis, continued claims reflect a good approximation of the current number of insured unemployed workers filing for UI benefits, and are a good indicator of labor market conditions. While continued claims are not a leading indicator, they provide confirming evidence of the direction of the economy.
The color-coded map below shows the distribution of this week’s continued claims in Virginia’s counties and cities, expressed as a percentage of each locality’s labor force. This approach provides a more meaningful comparison across areas by adjusting for differences in labor force size. Yellow represents a lower percentage of continued claims relative to the labor force, while progressively darker shades transitioning from yellow to green and dark green indicate higher percentages. The legend at the bottom shows the color spectrum and its corresponding percentage ranges.
RICHMOND— Virginia Works announced today that 2,372 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending August 30, 2025, which is 3.6 percent higher than last week’s 2,289 claims and 29.9 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (1,826). Nearly 81 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (60 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (353); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (228); Health Care and Social Assistance (201); Manufacturing (192); and Retail Trade (174).
Continued weeks claims (19,900) were 7.7 percent lower than last week (21,559) and were 27.7 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (15,589). Nearly 92 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (64 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (4,746); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,324); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,694); Manufacturing (1,516); and Retail Trade (1,496).
Significant Layoffs and Announcements are available at the following websites:
Initial Claims – Comparison of Unemployment Insurance Activity
Week Ending08/30/2025
Week Ending08/23/2025
Week Ending08/16/2025
Last Year08/31/2024
Initial Claims
2,372
2,289
3,146
1,826
Initial Change (%)
+83 (+3.6%)
-857 (-27.2%)
+522 (+19.9%)
+546 (+29.9%)
Continued Claims
19,900
21,559
21,225
15,589
Virginia Continued Weeks Claimed as a Percentage of Total Workforce
A person who has already filed an initial claim and who has experienced a week of unemployment files a continued claim to claim benefits for that week of unemployment. On a weekly basis, continued claims reflect a good approximation of the current number of insured unemployed workers filing for UI benefits, and are a good indicator of labor market conditions. While continued claims are not a leading indicator, they provide confirming evidence of the direction of the economy.
The color-coded map below shows the distribution of this week’s continued claims in Virginia’s counties and cities, expressed as a percentage of each locality’s labor force. This approach provides a more meaningful comparison across areas by adjusting for differences in labor force size. Yellow represents a lower percentage of continued claims relative to the labor force, while progressively darker shades transitioning from yellow to green and dark green indicate higher percentages. The legend at the bottom shows the color spectrum and its corresponding percentage ranges.
Converted Word Document
RICHMOND— Virginia Works – the Commonwealth’s Department of Workforce Development and Advancement – announced today that Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in July increased by 0.1 percentage points to 3.6 percent, which is 0.8 percentage points above the rate from a year ago and 0.6 percentage points below the national rate, which increased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.2 percent. According to Local Area Unemployment Statistics (“the household survey”), the labor force decreased by 6,121 in July to 4,552,304 and the number of employed residents decreased by 8,380 to 4,389,741, as the number of unemployed residents increased by 2,259 to 162,563.
The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 64.9 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.
In July’s Current Employment Statistics Survey, Virginia’s nonagricultural employment increased by 600 to 4,271,700. June’s preliminary estimate of employment, after revision, increased by 2,800 to 4,271,100. In July, private sector employment decreased by 3,600 to 3,507,000 while government employment increased by 4,200 to 764,700. Within that sector, federal government jobs increased by 1,400 to 187,200, state government employment increased by 1,600 to 165,400, and local government increased by 1,200 to 412,100 over the month.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for eleven industry sectors. In July, five experienced over-the-month job gains, and six experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Government (+4,200) to 764,700. The second largest job gain occurred in Education and Health Services (+1,400) to 633,300. The third largest job gain occurred in Leisure and Hospitality (+600) to 417,100. The other gains were in Construction (+500) to 229,500 and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+500) to 680,100. The largest job loss occurred in Miscellaneous Services (-2,000) to 205,900. The second largest job loss occurred in Manufacturing (-1,900) to 239,500. The third largest job loss occurred in Professional and Business Services (-1,700) to 804,200. The other losses were in Financial Activities (-600) to 220,300, Information (-300) to 70,100, and Mining and Logging (-100) to 7,000.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
Industry
Employment
June 2025 to July 2025
July 2024 to July 2025
July 2025
June 2025
July 2024
Change
% Change
Change
% Change
Total Nonfarm
4,271,700
4,271,100
4,236,300
600
0.0%
35,400
0.8%
Total Private
3,507,000
3,510,600
3,483,700
-3,600
-0.1%
23,300
0.7%
Goods Producing
476,000
477,500
470,400
-1,500
-0.3%
5,600
1.2%
Mining and Logging
7,000
7,100
7,400
-100
-1.4%
-400
-5.4%
Construction
229,500
229,000
219,400
500
0.2%
10,100
4.6%
Manufacturing
239,500
241,400
243,600
-1,900
-0.8%
-4,100
-1.7%
Service-Providing
3,795,700
3,793,600
3,765,900
2,100
0.1%
29,800
0.8%
Private Service Providing
3,031,000
3,033,100
3,013,300
-2,100
-0.1%
17,700
0.6%
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
680,100
679,600
677,300
500
0.1%
2,800
0.4%
Information
70,100
70,400
70,000
-300
-0.4%
100
0.1%
Financial Activities
220,300
220,900
221,100
-600
-0.3%
-800
-0.4%
Professional and Business Services
804,200
805,900
815,100
-1,700
-0.2%
-10,900
-1.3%
Education and Health Services
633,300
631,900
609,600
1,400
0.2%
23,700
3.9%
Leisure and Hospitality
417,100
416,500
415,500
600
0.1%
1,600
0.4%
Miscellaneous Services
205,900
207,900
204,700
-2,000
-1.0%
1,200
0.6%
Government
764,700
760,500
752,600
4,200
0.6%
12,100
1.6%
Federal Government
187,200
185,800
193,700
1,400
0.8%
-6,500
-3.4%
State Government
165,400
163,800
159,800
1,600
1.0%
5,600
3.5%
Local Government
412,100
410,900
399,100
1,200
0.3%
13,000
3.3%
*Current month’s estimates are preliminary.
From July 2024 to July 2025, Virginia Works estimates that total nonfarm employment in Virginia increased by 35,400 to 4,271,700, private sector employment increased by 23,300 to 3,507,000, and government employment increased by 12,100 to 764,700 jobs. Within that sector, federal government jobs decreased by 6,500 to 187,200, state government employment increased by 5,600 to 165,400, and local government increased by 13,000 to 412,100 over the year.
For the eleven industry sectors in Virginia over the year, seven experienced over-the-year job gains, and four experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Education and Health Services (+23,700) to 633,300. The second largest job gain occurred in Government (+12,100) to 764,700. The third largest job gain occurred in Construction (+10,100) to 229,500. The other gains were in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,800) to 680,100; Leisure and Hospitality (+1,600) to 417,100; Miscellaneous Services (+1,200) to 205,900; and Information (+100) to 70,100. The largest job loss occurred in Professional and Business Services (-10,900) to 804,200. The second largest job loss occurred in Manufacturing (-4,100) to 239,500. The third largest job loss occurred in Financial Activities (-800) to 220,300. The other loss was in Mining and Logging (-400) to 7,000.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
Area
Employment
June 2025 to July 2025
July 2024 to July 2025
July 2025
June 2025
July 2024
Change
% Change
Change
% Change
Virginia
4,271,700
4,271,100
4,236,300
600
0.0%
35,400
0.8%
Arlington-Alexandria MSA
1,632,500
1,632,400
1,623,300
100
0.0%
9,200
0.6%
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA
82,900
82,900
82,900
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Charlottesville MSA
125,600
125,400
124,300
200
0.2%
1,300
1.0%
Harrisonburg MSA
71,800
71,400
72,000
400
0.6%
-200
-0.3%
Lynchburg MSA
104,700
105,000
103,900
-300
-0.3%
800
0.8%
Richmond MSA
733,500
733,200
721,400
300
0.0%
12,100
1.7%
Roanoke MSA
168,800
168,600
167,500
200
0.1%
1,300
0.8%
Staunton MSA
53,900
54,000
53,800
-100
-0.2%
100
0.2%
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk MSA
820,600
821,500
821,700
-900
-0.1%
-1,100
-0.1%
Winchester MSA
74,300
74,200
73,000
100
0.1%
1,300
1.8%
*Current month’s estimates are preliminary.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In July, six experienced over-the-month job gains, one remained unchanged, and three experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Harrisonburg (+400) to 71,800. The second largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+300) to 733,500. The third largest job gain occurred in Charlottesville (+200) to 125,600. The other gains were in Roanoke (+200) to 168,800, Arlington-Alexandria (+100) to 1,632,500, and Winchester (+100) to 74,300. The largest job loss occurred in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (-900) to 820,600. The second largest job loss occurred in Lynchburg (-300) to 104,700. The third largest job loss occurred in Staunton (-100) to 53,900. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford remained unchanged.
Over the year, seven metro areas experienced over-the-year job gains, one remained unchanged, and two experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+12,100) to 733,500. The second largest job gain occurred in Arlington-Alexandria (+9,200) to 1,632,500. The third largest job gain occurred in Charlottesville (+1,300) to 125,600 and Roanoke (+1,300) to 168,800. The other gains were in Winchester (+1,300) to 74,300, Lynchburg (+800) to 104,700, and Staunton (+100) to 53,900. The largest job loss occurred in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (-1,100) to 820,600. The second largest job loss occurred in Harrisonburg (-200) to 71,800. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford remained unchanged.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 3.8 percent in July. It has increased by 0.6 percentage points compared to last year. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed increased by 25,094 to 173,998, household employment decreased by 75,370 to 4,414,341, and the labor force decreased by 50,276 to 4,588,339. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 0.8 percentage points below the national unadjusted rate, which increased by 0.2 percentage points to 4.6 percent.
Compared to last month, the July unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 155,800 manufacturing production workers remained unchanged at 38.4 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers decreased by $0.04 to $28.72, and average weekly earnings decreased by $1.53 to $1,102.85.
###
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 July Employment Situationpress release for details.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of July 6-12, 2025
Virginia Works plans to release the July local area unemployment rates on Wednesday August 27, 2025. The data will be available on our website www.VirginiaWorks.com. The August 2025 statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Friday September 19, 2025.
RICHMOND— Virginia Works announced today that 2,615 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending August 02, 2025, which is 5.0 percent higher than last week’s 2,490 claims and 35.0 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (1,937). Nearly 82 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (62 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (372); Manufacturing (260); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (241); Health Care and Social Assistance (213); and Retail Trade (196).
Continued weeks claims (21,488) were 0.1 percent higher than last week (21,457) and were 27.2 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (16,893). Nearly 93 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (62 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (4,836); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,463); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,973); Manufacturing (1,573); and Retail Trade (1,558).
Significant Layoffs and Announcements are available at the following websites:
Initial Claims – Comparison of Unemployment Insurance Activity
Week Ending08/02/2025
Week Ending07/26/2025
Week Ending07/19/2025
Last Year08/03/2024
Initial Claims
2,615
2,490
2,600
1,937
Initial Change (%)
+125 (+5.0%)
-110 (-4.2%)
-846 (-24.6%)
+678 (+35.0%)
Continued Claims
21,488
21,457
21,308
16,893
Virginia Continued Weeks Claimed as a Percentage of Total Workforce
A person who has already filed an initial claim and who has experienced a week of unemployment files a continued claim to claim benefits for that week of unemployment. On a weekly basis, continued claims reflect a good approximation of the current number of insured unemployed workers filing for UI benefits, and are a good indicator of labor market conditions. While continued claims are not a leading indicator, they provide confirming evidence of the direction of the economy.
The color-coded map below shows the distribution of this week’s continued claims in Virginia’s counties and cities, expressed as a percentage of each locality’s labor force. This approach provides a more meaningful comparison across areas by adjusting for differences in labor force size. Yellow represents a lower percentage of continued claims relative to the labor force, while progressively darker shades transitioning from yellow to green and dark green indicate higher percentages. The legend at the bottom shows the color spectrum and its corresponding percentage ranges.
RICHMOND— Virginia Works announced today that 2,837 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending July 05, 2025, which is 6.1 percent higher than last week’s 2,674 claims and 32.8 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (2,136). Nearly 80 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (64 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (405); Manufacturing (322); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (253); Health Care and Social Assistance (220); and Retail Trade (165).
Continued weeks claims (20,422) were 0.8 percent lower than last week (20,587) and were 24.0 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (16,471). Nearly 93 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (62 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (4,507); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,362); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,877); Retail Trade (1,493); and Manufacturing (1,398).
Significant Layoffs and Announcements are available at the following websites:
Initial Claims – Comparison of Unemployment Insurance Activity
Week Ending07/05/2025
Week Ending06/28/2025
Week Ending06/21/2025
Last Year07/06/2024
Initial Claims
2,837
2,674
2,766
2,136
Initial Change (%)
+163 (+6.1%)
-92 (-3.3%)
-1,206 (-30.4%)
+701 (+32.8%)
Continued Claims
20,422
20,587
21,399
16,471
Virginia Continued Weeks Claimed as a Percentage of Total Workforce
A person who has already filed an initial claim and who has experienced a week of unemployment files a continued claim to claim benefits for that week of unemployment. On a weekly basis, continued claims reflect a good approximation of the current number of insured unemployed workers filing for UI benefits, and are a good indicator of labor market conditions. While continued claims are not a leading indicator, they provide confirming evidence of the direction of the economy.
The color-coded map below shows the distribution of this week’s continued claims in Virginia’s counties and cities, expressed as a percentage of each locality’s labor force. This approach provides a more meaningful comparison across areas by adjusting for differences in labor force size. Yellow represents a lower percentage of continued claims relative to the labor force, while progressively darker shades transitioning from yellow to green and dark green indicate higher percentages. The legend at the bottom shows the color spectrum and its corresponding percentage ranges.
RICHMOND— Virginia Works announced today that 2,674 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending June 28, 2025, which is 3.3 percent lower than last week’s 2,766 claims and 26.6 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (2,112). Nearly 82 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (61 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (353); Health Care and Social Assistance (243); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (215); Manufacturing (212); and Retail Trade (188).
Continued weeks claims (20,587) were 3.8 percent lower than last week (21,399) and were 25.3 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (16,433). Nearly 92 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (62 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (4,487); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,397); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,837); Retail Trade (1,510); and Manufacturing (1,490).
Significant Layoffs and Announcements are available at the following websites:
Initial Claims – Comparison of Unemployment Insurance Activity
Week Ending06/28/2025
Week Ending06/21/2025
Week Ending06/14/2025
Last Year06/29/2024
Initial Claims
2,674
2,766
3,972
2,112
Initial Change (%)
-92 (-3.3%)
-1,206 (-30.4%)
+637 (+19.1%)
+562 (+26.6%)
Continued Claims
20,587
21,399
20,128
16,433
Virginia Continued Weeks Claimed as a Percentage of Total Workforce
A person who has already filed an initial claim and who has experienced a week of unemployment files a continued claim to claim benefits for that week of unemployment. On a weekly basis, continued claims reflect a good approximation of the current number of insured unemployed workers filing for UI benefits, and are a good indicator of labor market conditions. While continued claims are not a leading indicator, they provide confirming evidence of the direction of the economy.
The color-coded map below shows the distribution of this week’s continued claims in Virginia’s counties and cities, expressed as a percentage of each locality’s labor force. This approach provides a more meaningful comparison across areas by adjusting for differences in labor force size. Yellow represents a lower percentage of continued claims relative to the labor force, while progressively darker shades transitioning from yellow to green and dark green indicate higher percentages. The legend at the bottom shows the color spectrum and its corresponding percentage ranges.
RICHMOND— Virginia Works announced today that 3,335 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending June 07, 2025, which is 18.0 percent higher than last week’s 2,827 claims and 31.8 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (2,531). Nearly 80 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (65 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (473); Manufacturing (419); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (274); Health Care and Social Assistance (249); and Accommodation and Food Services (248).
Continued weeks claims (19,596) were 2.9 percent lower than last week (20,185) and were 24.3 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (15,761). Nearly 92 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (62 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (4,168); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,327); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,668); Manufacturing (1,510); and Retail Trade (1,445).
Significant Layoffs and Announcements are available at the following websites:
Initial Claims – Comparison of Unemployment Insurance Activity
Week Ending06/07/2025
Week Ending05/31/2025
Week Ending05/24/2025
Last Year06/08/2024
Initial Claims
3,335
2,827
3,662
2,531
Initial Change (%)
+508 (+18.0%)
-835 (-22.8%)
+947 (+34.9%)
+804 (+31.8%)
Continued Claims
19,596
20,185
19,652
15,761
Virginia Continued Weeks Claimed as a Percentage of Total Workforce
A person who has already filed an initial claim and who has experienced a week of unemployment files a continued claim to claim benefits for that week of unemployment. On a weekly basis, continued claims reflect a good approximation of the current number of insured unemployed workers filing for UI benefits, and are a good indicator of labor market conditions. While continued claims are not a leading indicator, they provide confirming evidence of the direction of the economy.
The color-coded map below shows the distribution of this week’s continued claims in Virginia’s counties and cities, expressed as a percentage of each locality’s labor force. This approach provides a more meaningful comparison across areas by adjusting for differences in labor force size. Yellow represents a lower percentage of continued claims relative to the labor force, while progressively darker shades transitioning from yellow to green and dark green indicate higher percentages. The legend at the bottom shows the color spectrum and its corresponding percentage ranges.
Statewide Employment and Wages Increased as Virginia Outperforms National Averages
RICHMOND— Virginia Works – the Commonwealth’s Department of Workforce Development and Advancement – announced the publication of 2024 Virginia Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data on Wednesday.
Total statewide employment for all occupations was an estimated 4,064,640 in 2024, a 2.1% increase from 2023’s total employment of 3,981,130. Wages in Virginia also increased during this period, with the mean annual wage growing by 2.9% to $72,060 and the median annual wage growing by 6.2% to $53,020. Virginia’s mean annual wage was 6.1% higher than the United States’ mean annual wage of $67,920, with Virginia’s median annual wage also larger than the United States’ $49,500 by 7.1%.
Figure 1 below displays the top five major occupational groups in Virginia by employment. Office and Administrative Support remains the largest statewide occupational group, with over 10% of Virginians employed in those occupations. Employment is largely concentrated not only in that group, but also in Business and Financial Operations Occupations and Sales and Related Occupations, with approximately 29% of statewide employment falling into one of these three categories. In terms of median annual wage, Business and Financial Operations Occupations rank relatively high among occupation groups with a median annual wage of $92,050 while the remaining four out of five top employing occupational groups have a median annual wage below that of the state overall ($53,020).
Figure 1: Top 5 Major Occupation Groups by Employment
The largest detailed occupations in the state were Fast Food and Counter Workers (103,390 employed), Retail Salespersons (101,260), and General and Operations Managers (99,710). Figure 2 outlines detailed statistics on the top five detailed occupations in the state.
Figure 2: Top 5 Detailed Occupations by Employment
Detailed Occupation
Employment
Mean Hourly Wage
Median Hourly Wage
Mean Annual Wage
Median Annual Wage
Fast Food and Counter Workers
103,390
$14.85
$13.97
$30,890
$29,060
Retail Salespersons
101,260
$17.48
$15.75
$36,350
$32,760
General and Operations Managers
99,710
$67.35
$58.43
$140,090
$121,530
Cashiers
84,500
$15.03
$14.35
$31,260
$29,840
Software Developers
83,290
$68.38
$64.65
$142,230
$134,470
Figure 3 graphs statewide median salary by major occupation group. The highest median salary was for Management Occupations at $136,430 (over two and a half times the state’s median salary for all occupations), followed by Computer and Mathematical Occupations at $126,830 and Legal Occupations at $105,700. The lowest median salary reported was for Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations at $33,710, followed by Personal Care and Service Occupations at $34,510 and Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations at $35,440.
Figure 3: Median Salary by Major Occupation Group
It is important to consider employment and wage trends across regions of Virginia. Figure 4 gives employment and wage statistics for Virginia’s fourteen Local Workforce Development Areas (map shown in Appendix B). As expected, the regions with the highest employment were the Northern Region (1,032,120), the Hampton Roads Region (748,660), and the Capital Region (588,240). The Alexandria/Arlington Region had the highest wages with a mean annual wage of $102,380 and a median wage of $81,620. The West Piedmont Region had the lowest wages with a mean annual wage of $51,130 and a median annual wage of $41,530.
Figure 4: Employment and Wages by Local Workforce Development Are
Local Workforce Development Area (LWDA)
Employment
Mean Hourly Wage
Median Hourly Wage
Mean Annual Wage
Median Annual Wage
Southwest Region (LWDA I)
52,960
$25.80
$21.27
$53,670
$44,230
New River/Mount Rogers Region (LWDA II)
145,370
$26.31
$21.59
$54,730
$44,920
Greater Roanoke Region (LWDA III)
159,160
$27.41
$22.12
$57,010
$46,020
Shenandoah Valley Region (LWDA IV)
233,050
$27.31
$22.27
$56,800
$46,320
Piedmont Region (LWDA VI)
176,180
$32.70
$24.38
$68,010
$50,700
Central Region (LWDA VII)
97,210
$27.08
$21.85
$56,330
$45,440
South Central Region (LWDA VIII)
53,160
$25.60
$21.42
$53,250
$44,550
Capital Region (LWDA IX)
588,240
$32.11
$24.20
$66,790
$50,330
Northern Region (LWDA XI)
1,032,120
$41.83
$30.81
$87,010
$64,080
Alexandria/Arlington Region (LWDA XII)
260,760
$49.22
$39.24
$102,380
$81,620
Bay Consortium Region (LWDA XIII)
171,220
$31.88
$23.43
$66,310
$48,730
Crater Region (LWDA V)
66,530
$28.82
$23.45
$59,940
$48,780
Hampton Roads Region (LWDA XIV)
748,660
$30.14
$23.28
$62,700
$48,420
West Piedmont Region (LWDA X)
66,550
$24.58
$19.96
$51,130
$41,530
Detailed statistics by major occupational group are shown in Appendix A. Appendix C provides an overview of the top three major occupational groups and top three detailed occupations by LWDA. Full data accompanies this release and may also be accessed at this link and downloaded here.
Appendix A: 2024 Statewide Employment and Wages of Major Occupational Groups
Major Occupation Group
Employment
Average Hourly Wage
Median Hourly Wage
Average Annual Wage
Median Annual Wage
Total, All Occupations
4,064,640
$34.64
$25.49
$72,060
$53,020
Management
261,140
$73.90
$65.59
$153,710
$136,430
Business and Financial Operations
394,760
$48.66
$44.26
$101,210
$92,050
Computer and Mathematical
238,320
$61.48
$60.98
$127,880
$126,830
Architecture and Engineering
74,160
$50.60
$47.39
$105,260
$98,570
Life, Physical, and Social Science
44,310
$48.20
$39.83
$100,250
$82,850
Community and Social Service
61,410
$30.37
$28.30
$63,170
$58,860
Legal
35,540
$64.35
$50.82
$133,840
$105,700
Educational Instruction and Library
249,680
$31.67
$28.44
$65,880
$59,150
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
58,950
$33.76
$29.24
$70,220
$60,820
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
228,840
$48.83
$39.28
$101,570
$81,700
Healthcare Support
155,140
$18.71
$17.69
$38,910
$36,800
Protective Service
110,470
$28.33
$24.59
$58,920
$51,150
Food Preparation and Serving Related
340,370
$17.87
$16.21
$37,160
$33,710
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
127,170
$17.92
$17.04
$37,270
$35,440
Personal Care and Service
90,420
$18.90
$16.59
$39,310
$34,510
Sales and Related
359,480
$25.53
$17.54
$53,110
$36,490
Office and Administrative Support
425,580
$23.90
$22.11
$49,710
$45,990
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
5,010
$22.29
$19.81
$46,370
$41,210
Construction and Extraction
171,980
$27.65
$24.92
$57,520
$51,840
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
156,110
$29.80
$28.32
$61,990
$58,910
Production
160,020
$23.90
$22.05
$49,710
$45,860
Transportation and Material Moving
315,760
$24.53
$21.30
$51,010
$44,300
Appendix B: Map of Local Workforce Development Are
Appendix C: Top Occupations by Employment by Local Workforce Development Area
Local Workforce Development Area (LWDA)
Top 3 Major Occupational Groups (employment)
Top 3 Detailed Occupations (employment)
Southwest Region (LWDA I)
1) Office and Administrative Support (6,110) 2) Sales and Related (5,040) 3) Educational Instruction and Library (4,990)
1) Cashiers (2,090) 2) Fast Food and Counter Workers (1,680) 3) Stockers and Order Fillers (1,380)
New River/Mount Rogers Region (LWDA II)
1) Production (15,570) 2) Office and Administrative Support (15,080) 3) Food Preparation and Serving Related (13,690)
1) Fast Food and Counter Workers (4,290) 2) Cashiers (4,050) 3) Retail Salespersons (3,510)
Greater Roanoke Region (LWDA III)
1) Office and Administrative Support (18,250) 2) Sales and Related (14,880) 3) Transportation and Material Moving (14,520)
1) Registered Nurses (6,120) 2) Retail Salespersons (4,500) 3) Fast Food and Counter Workers (3,670)
Shenandoah Valley Region (LWDA IV)
1) Transportation and Material Moving (28,400) 2) Office and Administrative Support (24,350) 3) Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations (21,860)
1) Fast Food and Counter Workers (7,040) 2) Retail Salespersons (6,520) 3) Stockers and Order Fillers (6,170)
Crater Region (LWDA V)
1) Transportation and Material Moving (8,820) 2) Office and Administrative Support (6,290) 3) Food Preparation and Serving Related (5,910)
1) Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (2,020) 2) Cashiers (1,960) 3) Fast Food and Counter Workers (1,930)
Piedmont Region (LWDA VI)
1) Office and Administrative Support (17,760) 2) Educational Instruction and Library (17,070) 3) Food Preparation and Serving Related (16,970)
1) Fast Food and Counter Workers (4,770) 2) Retail Salespersons (4,370) 3) Cashiers (4,020)
Central Region (LWDA VII)
1) Office and Administrative Support (10,250) 2) Sales and Related (10,050) 3) Food Preparation and Serving Related (9,580)
1) Retail Salespersons (3,480) 2) Fast Food and Counter Workers (3,280) 3) Cashiers (2,530)
South Central Region (LWDA VIII)
1) Transportation and Material Moving (5,830) 2) Office and Administrative Support (5,780) 3) Sales and Related (4,810)
1) Cashiers (1,740) 2) Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (1,440) 3) Fast Food and Counter Workers (1,360)
Capital Region (LWDA IX)
1) Office and Administrative Support (70,930) 2) Business and Financial Operations (55,440) 3) Sales and Related (53,870)
1) Fast Food and Counter Workers (15,020) 2) Retail Salespersons (14,530) 3) Registered Nurses (14,080)
West Piedmont Region (LWDA X)
1) Production (7,800) 2) Office and Administrative Support (7,500) 3) Transportation and Material Moving (6,910)
1) Cashiers (1,990) 2) Fast Food and Counter Workers (1,850) 3) Retail Salespersons (1,740)
Northern Region (LWDA XI)
1) Business and Financial Operations (126,140) 2) Computer and Mathematical (103,610) 3) Office and Administrative Support (95,130)
1) Software Developers (39,680) 2) General and Operations Managers (29,310) 3) Management Analysts (25,860)
Alexandria/Arlington Region (LWDA XII)
1) Business and Financial Operations (49,520) 2) Computer and Mathematical (28,530) 3) Management (27,960)
1) Management Analysts (12,040) 2) Software Developers (9,200) 3) General and Operations Managers (9,050)
Bay Consortium Region (LWDA XIII)
1) Sales and Related (17,820) 2) Office and Administrative Support (16,930) 3) Food Preparation and Serving Related (16,790)
1) Fast Food and Counter Workers (5,600) 2) Cashiers (5,460) 3) Retail Salespersons (5,350)
Hampton Roads Region (LWDA XIV)
1) Office and Administrative Support (80,290) 2) Food Preparation and Serving Related (74,070) 3) Sales and Related (67,670)
1) Fast Food and Counter Workers (22,230) 2) Retail Salespersons (20,890) 3) Cashiers (17,160)
This Federal-State cooperative program provides annual estimates of employment and wages for approximately 800 occupations in 22 major occupational groups based on a survey of business establishments. Occupations are classified using the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, which organizes jobs into a hierarchy from 2-digit major occupation groups to detailed 6-digit occupations. The OEWS survey covers wage and salary workers in nonfarm and nonmilitary establishments and does not include the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers, or unpaid family workers. In collaboration with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Virginia Works releases comprehensive data covering the entire state, as well as Virginia’s Balance of State (BOS) regions and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). An industry breakdown is available for this data according to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. Additionally, utilizing modeling from the Local Employment and Wage Information System (LEWIS), Virginia Works generates estimates for Local Workforce Development Areas (LWDAs) and Planning Regions (PDCs).
Technical Notes:
Virginia Works has provided several extensions to the official OEWS data series which have been developed in cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). These additional products have not been validated by BLS and are not, therefore, official BLS data series.
Two of these additional products are the “entrywg” and “experience” fields. Virginia Works has used the Local Employment and Wage Information System (LEWIS) to calculate entry-level wage rates as the mean of the bottom third of the wage distribution, and experienced-level wage rates as the mean of the top two-thirds of the wage distribution. Data on experience level were not collected as part of the OEWS Survey, and the data contained in this report have not been validated by BLS and are not, therefore, official BLS data series.
Other products provided by Virginia Works which are not official BLS data series include OEWS estimates for Local Workforce Development Areas (LWDAs) and Planning Regions (PDCs). These sub-state employment and wage estimates have been produced using the Local Employment and Wage Information System (LEWIS) and have not been validated by BLS.
Please note that for statewide estimates, employment levels below 100 have been excluded. For sub-state estimates, employment levels below 30 have been excluded. Other suppressions have been applied to estimates across all area types according to BLS guidelines. More technical information may be found at this link: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_tec.htm
RICHMOND— Virginia Works – the Commonwealth’s Department of Workforce Development and Advancement – announced today that Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in April increased by 0.1 percentage points to 3.3 percent, which is 0.5 percentage points above the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in April, the labor force decreased by 7,540 to 4,579,104 as the number of unemployed residents increased by 6,305 to 151,942. The number of employed residents decreased by 13,845 to 4,427,162 according to the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (“the household survey”). Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 0.9 percentage points below the national rate, which remained unchanged at 4.2 percent.
The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 65.4 percent in April. 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 April’s Current Employment Statistics Survey, Virginia’s nonagricultural employment increased by 500 to 4,272,700. March’s preliminary estimate of employment, after revision, increased by 800 to 4,272,200. In April, private sector employment increased by 1,100 to 3,510,600 while government employment decreased by 600 to 762,100. Within that sector, federal government jobs decreased by 900 to 191,600, state government employment remained unchanged at 161,300, and local government increased by 300 to 409,200 over the month.
Seasonally adjusted total non-farm employment data is produced for eleven industry sectors. In April, three experienced over-the-month job gains, two remained unchanged, and six experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Construction (+4,300) to 228,400. The second largest job gain occurred in Leisure and Hospitality (+700) to 418,700. The third largest job gain occurred in Information (+400) to 70,600.
The largest job loss occurred in Manufacturing (-1,300) to 242,900. The second largest job loss occurred in Professional and Business Services (-1,300) to 807,000. The third largest job loss occurred in Education and Health Services (-1,100) to 630,400. The other losses were in Government (-600) to 762,100; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500) to 679,800; and Mining and Logging (-100) to 7,100.
Financial Activities and Miscellaneous Services remained unchanged.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia* Seasonally Adjusted
Industry
Employment
March 2025 to April 2025
April 2024 to April 2025
April 2025
March 2025
April 2024
Change
% Change
Change
% Change
Total Nonfarm
4,272,700
4,272,200
4,224,800
500
0.0%
47,900
1.1%
Total Private
3,510,600
3,509,500
3,475,000
1,100
0.0%
35,600
1.0%
Goods Producing
478,400
475,500
469,700
2,900
0.6%
8,700
1.9%
Mining and Logging
7,100
7,200
7,300
-100
-1.4%
-200
-2.7%
Construction
228,400
224,100
217,900
4,300
1.9%
10,500
4.8%
Manufacturing
242,900
244,200
244,500
-1,300
-0.5%
-1,600
-0.7%
Service-Providing
3,794,300
3,796,700
3,755,100
-2,400
-0.1%
39,200
1.0%
Private Service Providing
3,032,200
3,034,000
3,005,300
-1,800
-0.1%
26,900
0.9%
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
679,800
680,300
676,600
-500
-0.1%
3,200
0.5%
Information
70,600
70,200
70,100
400
0.6%
500
0.7%
Financial Activities
221,000
221,000
220,900
0
0.0%
100
0.0%
Professional and Business Services
807,000
808,300
812,200
-1,300
-0.2%
-5,200
-0.6%
Education and Health Services
630,400
631,500
604,300
-1,100
-0.2%
26,100
4.3%
Leisure and Hospitality
418,700
418,000
417,000
700
0.2%
1,700
0.4%
Miscellaneous Services
204,700
204,700
204,200
0
0.0%
500
0.2%
Government
762,100
762,700
749,800
-600
-0.1%
12,300
1.6%
Federal Government
191,600
192,500
192,700
-900
-0.5%
-1,100
-0.6%
State Government
161,300
161,300
158,700
0
0.0%
2,600
1.6%
Local Government
409,200
408,900
398,400
300
0.1%
10,800
2.7%
*Current month’s estimates are preliminary.
From April 2024 to April 2025, Virginia Works estimates that total nonfarm employment in Virginia increased by 47,900 to 4,272,700, private sector employment increased by 35,600 to 3,510,600, and government employment increased by 12,300 to 762,100 jobs. Within that sector, federal government jobs decreased by 1,100 to 191,600, state government employment increased by 2,600 to 161,300, and local government increased by 10,800 to 409,200 over the year.
For the eleven industry sectors in Virginia over the year, eight experienced over-the-year job gains, and three experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Education and Health Services (+26,100) to 630,400. The second largest job gain occurred in Government (+12,300) to 762,100. The third largest job gain occurred in Construction (+10,500) to 228,400. The other gains were in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+3,200) to 679,800; Leisure and Hospitality (+1,700) to 418,700; Information (+500) to 70,600; Miscellaneous Services (+500) to 204,700; and Financial Activities (+100) to 221,000.
The largest job loss occurred in Professional and Business Services (-5,200) to 807,000. The second largest job loss occurred in Manufacturing (-1,600) to 242,900. The third largest job loss occurred in Mining and Logging (-200) to 7,100.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia* Seasonally Adjusted
Area
Employment
March 2025 to April 2025
April 2024 to April 2025
April 2025
March 2025
April 2024
Change
% Change
Change
% Change
Virginia
4,272,700
4,272,200
4,224,800
500
0.0%
47,900
1.1%
Arlington-Alexandria MSA
1,634,000
1,634,900
1,612,200
-900
-0.1%
21,800
1.4%
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA
81,700
81,900
83,200
-200
-0.2%
-1,500
-1.8%
Charlottesville MSA
126,300
126,200
124,200
100
0.1%
2,100
1.7%
Harrisonburg MSA
70,300
70,800
72,000
-500
-0.7%
-1,700
-2.4%
Lynchburg MSA
104,600
104,800
104,700
-200
-0.2%
-100
-0.1%
Richmond MSA
728,200
724,100
716,600
4,100
0.6%
11,600
1.6%
Roanoke MSA
168,300
168,500
167,400
-200
-0.1%
900
0.5%
Staunton MSA
54,300
54,100
54,200
200
0.4%
100
0.2%
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk MSA
823,900
824,300
821,700
-400
-0.0%
2,200
0.3%
Winchester MSA
74,100
74,000
73,100
100
0.1%
1,000
1.4%
*Current month’s estimates are preliminary.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In April, four experienced over-the-month job gains, and six experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+4,100) to 728,200. The second largest job gain occurred in Staunton (+200) to 54,300. The third largest job gain occurred in Charlottesville (+100) to 126,300. The other gain was in Winchester (+100) to 74,100.
The largest job loss occurred in Arlington-Alexandria (-900) to 1,634,000. The second largest job loss occurred in Harrisonburg (-500) to 70,300. The third largest job loss occurred in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (-400) to 823,900. The other losses were in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (-200) to 81,700, Lynchburg (-200) to 104,600, and Roanoke (-200) to 168,300.
Over the year, seven metro areas experienced over-the-year job gains, and three experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Arlington-Alexandria (+21,800) to 1,634,000. The second largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+11,600) to 728,200. The third largest job gain occurred in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (+2,200) to 823,900. The other gains were in Charlottesville (+2,100) to 126,300, Winchester (+1,000) to 74,100, Roanoke (+900) to 168,300, and Staunton (+100) to 54,300.
The largest job loss occurred in Harrisonburg (-1,700) to 70,300. The second largest job loss occurred in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (-1,500) to 81,700. The third largest job loss occurred in Lynchburg (-100) to 104,600.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 3.3 percent in April. It has increased by 0.9 percentage points to 3.3 percent compared to last year. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed increased by 40,350 to 152,586, household employment decreased by 60,461 to 4,412,512, and the labor force decreased by 20,111 to 4,565,098. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 0.6 percentage points below the national unadjusted rate, which decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 3.9 percent.
Compared to last month, the April unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 156,700 manufacturing production workers decreased by 0.2 to 39.1 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers increased by $0.14 to $28.41, and average weekly earnings decreased by $0.18 to $1,110.83.
###
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 April Employment Situationpress release for details.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of April 6-12, 2025
Virginia Works plans to release the April local area unemployment rates on Wednesday May 28, 2025. The data will be available on our website www.VirginiaWorks.com. The May 2025 statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Tuesday June 24, 2025.
RICHMOND— Virginia Works announced today that 3,270 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending April 12, 2025, which is 12.0 percent lower than last week’s 3,714 claims and 46.1 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (2,238). Nearly 68 percent of claimants self-reported an associated industry; of those reported, the top five industries (66 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (465); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (269); Retail Trade (246); Manufacturing (223); and Health Care and Social Assistance (209).
Continued weeks claims (18,459) were 4.9 percent higher than last week (17,598) and were 20.9 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (15,263). Nearly 92 percent of claimants self-reported an associated industry; of those reported, the top five industries (62 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (3,529); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,152); Manufacturing (1,848); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,566); and Retail Trade (1,398).
Significant Layoffs and Announcements are available at the following websites:
Initial Claims – Comparison of Unemployment Insurance Activity
Week Ending04/12/2025
Week Ending04/05/2025
Week Ending03/29/2025
Last Year04/13/2024
Initial Claims
3,270
3,714
2,575
2,238
Initial Change (%)
-444 (-12.0%)
+1,139 (+44.2%)
-108 (-4.0%)
+1,032 (+46.1%)
Continued Claims
18,459
17,598
17,625
15,263
Virginia Continued Weeks Claimed
A person who has already filed an initial claim and who has experienced a week of unemployment files a continued claim to claim benefits for that week of unemployment. On a weekly basis, continued claims reflect a good approximation of the current number of insured unemployed workers filing for UI benefits, and are a good indicator of labor market conditions. While continued claims are not a leading indicator, they provide confirming evidence of the direction of the economy. The color-coded map below shows the distribution of this week’s continued claims for Virginia’s counties and cities. Yellow represents low numbers, while progressively darker shades transitioning from yellow to green and dark green signify increasing numbers of continued claims. The legend located at the bottom provides the color spectrum and its corresponding count of continued claims.
