Virginia’s Latest Unemployment Insurance Weekly Initial Claims and Continued Claims Up Slightly
RICHMOND— Virginia Works announced today that 2,516 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending April 26, 2025, which is 5.5 percent higher than last week’s 2,384 claims and 11.0 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (2,266). Nearly 82 percent of claimants self-reported an associated industry; of those reported, the top five industries (61 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (467); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (247); Health Care and Social Assistance (185); Retail Trade (170); and Manufacturing (145).
Continued weeks claims (17,638) were 1.0 percent higher than last week (17,457) and were 13.7 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (15,518). Nearly 92 percent of claimants self-reported an associated industry; of those reported, the top five industries (61 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (3,606); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,210); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,582); Retail Trade (1,415); and Manufacturing (1,158).
Significant Layoffs and Announcements are available at the following websites:
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 2,384 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending April 19, 2025, which is 27.1 percent lower than last week’s 3,270 claims and 2.3 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (2,331). Nearly 79 percent of claimants self-reported an associated industry; of those reported, the top five industries (63 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (373); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (230); Health Care and Social Assistance (207); Retail Trade (179); and Manufacturing (162).
Continued weeks claims (17,457) were 5.4 percent lower than last week (18,459) and were 14.4 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (15,254). Nearly 92 percent of claimants self-reported an associated industry; of those reported, the top five industries (61 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (3,505); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,167); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,558); Retail Trade (1,397); and Manufacturing (1,204).
Significant Layoffs and Announcements are available at the following websites:
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.
RICHMOND— Virginia Works (the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement) announced today that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ February 2025 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) reports a rise in total job separations.
On the last business day in February, there were 228,000 job openings in Virginia, seasonally adjusted, a decrease of 30,000 from January’s revised figure. Job openings fell by 18 percent from February 2024’s figure but are still higher than pre-pandemic levels. Nationwide, the number of job openings was little changed at 7.6 million in February but was down by 877,000 over the year.
According to the most recent BLS JOLTS survey data, the number of February 2025 job separations in Virginia increased by 17,000 over the month to160,000 separations, largely driven by 97,000 quits. BLS’s JOLTS data provide information on all the components that make up the net change in the number of jobs over a month, including job openings, hires, layoffs, voluntary quits, and other job separations (including retirements and worker deaths). Together, these components attempt to reveal the overall change in payroll employment. JOLTS data is seasonally adjusted and describes conditions on the last business day of the month. Current month’s data are preliminary and the previous month’s data have been revised.
The number of job hires in Virginia fell to 143,000 in February, a decrease of 16,000 over the month and down by 19 percent from February 2024. JOLTS defines hires as all additions to the payroll during the month. However, the number of hires was 75 percent higher than the low set in April 2020. In February, the number of U.S. hires was unchanged at 5.4 million. In Virginia, the 3.4 percent hires rate decreased from January’s revised 3.7 percent. In February, the rate of hires nationwide was unchanged at 3.4 percent.
The Virginia hires-per-job-openings (HPJO) ratio was little changed at 6 hires for every 10 job openings, lower than nationwide. This measure shows the rate of hiring compared to open jobs and is a proxy for time to fill positions. In February 2025, there were 0.6 unemployed per job opening in the Commonwealth, compared to 0.9 unemployed per job opening nationwide.
Total job separations in Virginia increased by 17,000 to 160,000. The number of total separations was also 82 percent higher than the low set in August 2009 during the 07-09 ‘Great Recession.’ Nationwide, the number of total separations in February was unchanged at 5.3 million. U.S. total separations increased in state and local government education (+32,000) and in federal government (+11,000).
The Virginia total separations rate rose to 3.8 percent, higher than levels seen in recent months. Nationwide, the rate of total separations in February was unchanged at 3.3 percent.
An estimated 97,000 workers quit jobs from Virginia employers in February. The number of job quits rebounded from January’s decrease revised figure to its highest level since July 2024. Nationwide in February, the number of quits was little changed at 3.2 million but was down by 273,000 over the year. U.S. quits increased in state and local government education (+28,000).The quits rate in the Commonwealth was 2.3 percent. Over the month, the U.S. quits rate was little changed at 2.0 percent. In February, the quits rate increased for establishments with 1 to 9 employees. The February ‘churn’ rate (the sum of the hires and total separations rates) in Virginia rose by 0.1 of a percentage point from January’s revised 7.1 percent figure and was driven by increases in job separations. It exceeded the U.S. churn rate, which was little changed over the month. While more volatile month-to-month, Virginia’s pace has been more active for over a year.
The number of layoffs and discharges in Virginia was 54,000 in February, unchanged from January’s revised estimate. This was up 10 percent over the year, but it remains comparable to historical trends. Layoffs and discharges are countercyclical, which means that layoffs typically increase during economic contractions and decrease during economic expansions. In February, the number of U.S. layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.8 million.Nationwide, layoffs and discharges increased in retail trade (+67,000), real estate and rental and leasing (+24,000), and federal government (+18,000). Layoffs and discharges decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-42,000). The Virginia layoffs and discharges rate was unchanged at 1.3 percent in February. The U.S. layoffs and discharges rate remained little changed at 1.1 percent. In February, the layoffs and discharges rate increased for establishments with 1 to 9 employees.
On the last business day of February, JOLTS data indicated steady conditions, but with increased movement between jobs, driven by increases in job separations.
Job Openings Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the reference month. A job is open only if it meets the following three conditions: (1) A specific position exists and there is work available for that position; the position can be full time or part time, and it can be permanent, short term, or seasonal; (2) the job could start within 30 days, whether or not the employer can find a suitable candidate during that time; and (3) the employer is actively recruiting workers from outside the establishment to fill the position. Excluded are positions open only to internal transfers, promotions or demotions, or recalls from layoffs.
Hires Hires include all additions to the payroll during the entire reference month, including newly hired and rehired employees; full-time and part-time employees; permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees; employees who were recalled to a job at the location following a layoff (formal suspension from pay status) lasting more than 7 days; on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after having been formally separated; workers who were hired and separated during the month; and transfers from other locations. Excluded are transfers or promotions within the reporting location, employees returning from a strike, and employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants.
Separations Separations include all separations from the payroll during the entire reference month and are reported by type of separation: quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits include employees who left voluntarily, except for retirements or transfers to other locations. Layoffs and discharges include involuntary separations initiated by the employer, including layoffs with no intent to rehire; layoffs (formal suspensions from pay status) lasting or expected to last more than 7 days; discharges resulting from mergers, downsizing, or closings; firings or other discharges for cause; terminations of permanent or short-term employees; and terminations of seasonal employees (whether or not they are expected to return the next season). Other separations include retirements, transfers to other locations, separations due to employee disability, and deaths. Excluded are transfers within the same location, employees on strike, and employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants.
Virginia Works plans to release the March 2025 analysis of the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey for Virginia on Friday May 23, 2025. The data for all states and the U.S. will be available on the BLS website JOLTS page, at https://www.bls.gov/jlt/. BLS is scheduled to release the March JOLTS data for states on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Technical note: Effective with this release, the U.S. Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) estimates will incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment data and the JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors. Effective with the release of May 2025 data, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) state estimates will be benchmarked and revised to include the annual benchmark revisions to JOLTS national estimates, the Current Employment Statistics (CES) employment estimates, and the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data. Seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted data from January 2019 forward are subject to revision. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) produces monthly data on U.S. and regional job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations from a sample of approximately 21,000 establishments.
For more information on the program’s concepts and methodology, see “Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey: Handbook of Methods” (Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, July 13, 2020), https://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/jlt/home.htm. For more information on BLS’ state JOLTS estimates, see https://www.bls.gov/jlt/jlt_statedata.htm. Definitions of JOLTS terms*
RICHMOND— Virginia Works – the Commonwealth’s Department of Workforce Development and Advancement – announced today that Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March increased by 0.1 percentage points to 3.2 percent, which is 0.4 percentage points above the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in March, the labor force decreased by 9,752 to 4,586,386 as the number of unemployed residents increased by 5,029 to 145,441. The number of employed residents decreased by 14,781 to 4,440,945. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 1.0 percentage points below the national rate, which increased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.2 percent.
The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 65.5 percent in March. 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 March, Virginia’s nonagricultural employment, from the monthly establishment survey increased by 5,900 to 4,271,400. February’s preliminary estimate of employment, after revision, decreased by 600 to 4,265,500. In March, private sector employment increased by 8,300 to 3,508,700 while government employment decreased by 2,400 to 762,700. Within that sector, federal government jobs decreased by 4,100 to 192,000, state government employment increased by 1,000 to 161,800, and local government increased by 700 to 408,900 over the month.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for eleven industry sectors. In March, six experienced over-the-month job gains, one remained unchanged, and four experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Construction (+7,200) to 226,100. The second largest job gain occurred in Education and Health Services (+2,200) to 632,400. The third largest job gain occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,600) to 680,400. The other gains were in Leisure and Hospitality (+1,500) to 418,400; Manufacturing (+600) to 243,500; and Financial Activities (+200) to 220,700.
The largest job loss occurred in Professional and Business Services (-4,400) to 805,300. The second largest job loss occurred in Government (-2,400) to 762,700. The third largest job loss occurred in Information (-300) to 70,200 and Miscellaneous Services (-300) to 204,500. Mining and Logging remained unchanged.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia* Seasonally Adjusted
Industry
Employment
February 2025 to March 2025
March 2024 to March 2025
March 2025
February 2025
March 2024
Change
% Change
Change
% Change
Total Nonfarm
4,271,400
4,265,500
4,223,100
5,900
0.1%
48,300
1.1%
Total Private
3,508,700
3,500,400
3,471,700
8,300
0.2%
37,000
1.1%
Goods Producing
476,800
469,000
469,000
7,800
1.7%
7,800
1.7%
Mining and Logging
7,200
7,200
7,200
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Construction
226,100
218,900
217,400
7,200
3.3%
8,700
4.0%
Manufacturing
243,500
242,900
244,400
600
0.2%
-900
-0.4%
Service-Providing
3,794,600
3,796,500
3,754,100
-1,900
-0.1%
40,500
1.1%
Private Service Providing
3,031,900
3,031,400
3,002,700
500
0.0%
29,200
1.0%
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
680,400
678,800
676,100
1,600
0.2%
4,300
0.6%
Information
70,200
70,500
70,100
-300
-0.4%
100
0.1%
Financial Activities
220,700
220,500
220,900
200
0.1%
-200
-0.1%
Professional and Business Services
805,300
809,700
811,800
-4,400
-0.5%
-6,500
-0.8%
Education and Health Services
632,400
630,200
602,400
2,200
0.3%
30,000
5.0%
Leisure and Hospitality
418,400
416,900
416,700
1,500
0.4%
1,700
0.4%
Miscellaneous Services
204,500
204,800
204,700
-300
-0.1%
-200
-0.1%
Government
762,700
765,100
751,400
-2,400
-0.3%
11,300
1.5%
Federal Government
192,000
196,100
192,800
-4,100
-2.1%
-800
-0.4%
State Government
161,800
160,800
158,800
1,000
0.6%
3,000
1.9%
Local Government
408,900
408,200
399,800
700
0.2%
9,100
2.3%
*Current month’s estimates are preliminary.
From March 2024 to March 2025, Virginia Works estimates that total nonfarm employment in Virginia increased by 48,300 to 4,271,400, private sector employment increased by 37,000 to 3,508,700, and government employment increased by 11,300 to 762,700 jobs. Within that sector, federal government jobs decreased by 800 to 192,000, state government employment increased by 3,000 to 161,800, and local government increased by 9,100 to 408,900 over the year.
For the eleven industry sectors in Virginia over the year, six experienced over-the-year job gains, one remained unchanged, and four experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Education and Health Services (+30,000) to 632,400. The second largest job gain occurred in Government (+11,300) to 762,700. The third largest job gain occurred in Construction (+8,700) to 226,100. The other gains were in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,300) to 680,400; Leisure and Hospitality (+1,700) to 418,400; and Information (+100) to 70,200.
The largest job loss occurred in Professional and Business Services (-6,500) to 805,300. The second largest job loss occurred in Manufacturing (-900) to 243,500. The third largest job loss occurred in Financial Activities (-200) to 220,700 and Miscellaneous Services (-200) to 204,500. Mining and Logging remained unchanged.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia* Seasonally Adjusted
Area
Employment
February 2025 to March 2025
March 2024 to March 2025
March 2025
February 2025
March 2024
Change
% Change
Change
% Change
Virginia
4,271,400
4,265,500
4,223,100
5,900
0.1%
48,300
1.1%
Arlington-Alexandria MSA
1,634,900
1,633,900
1,613,700
1,000
0.1%
21,200
1.3%
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA
82,000
82,000
83,600
0
0.0%
-1,600
-1.9%
Charlottesville MSA
126,000
125,800
124,500
200
0.2%
1,500
1.2%
Harrisonburg MSA
71,100
71,000
72,500
100
0.1%
-1,400
-1.9%
Lynchburg MSA
104,700
104,500
105,000
200
0.2%
-300
-0.3%
Richmond MSA
724,000
724,800
716,100
-800
-0.1%
7,900
1.1%
Roanoke MSA
168,500
168,100
167,300
400
0.2%
1,200
0.7%
Staunton MSA
54,100
54,200
54,100
-100
-0.2%
0
0.0%
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk MSA
824,000
823,200
821,200
800
0.1%
2,800
0.3%
Winchester MSA
73,800
73,900
73,300
-100
-0.1%
500
0.7%
*Current month’s estimates are preliminary.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In March, six experienced over-the-month job gains, one remained unchanged, and three experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Arlington-Alexandria (+1,000) to 1,634,900. The second largest job gain occurred in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (+800) to 824,000. The third largest job gain occurred in Roanoke (+400) to 168,500. The other gains were in Charlottesville (+200) to 126,000; Lynchburg (+200) to 104,700; and Harrisonburg (+100) to 71,100.
The largest job loss occurred in Richmond (-800) to 724,000. The second largest job loss occurred in both Staunton (-100) to 54,100 and in Winchester (-100) to 73,800. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford remained unchanged.
Over the year, six metro areas experienced over-the-year job gains, one remained unchanged, and three experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Arlington-Alexandria (+21,200) to 1,634,900. The second largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+7,900) to 724,000. The third largest job gain occurred in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (+2,800) to 824,000. The other gains were in Charlottesville (+1,500) to 126,000; Roanoke (+1,200) to 168,500; and Winchester (+500) to 73,800.
The largest job loss occurred in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (-1,600) to 82,000. The second largest job loss occurred in Harrisonburg (-1,400) to 71,100. The third largest job loss occurred in Lynchburg (-300) to 104,700. Staunton remained unchanged.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 3.4 percent in March. It has increased by 0.7 percentage points to 3.4 percent compared to last year. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed increased by 32,868 to 157,134, household employment decreased by 63,725 to 4,409,591, and the labor force decreased by 30,857 to 4,566,725. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 0.8 percentage points below the national unadjusted rate, which decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 4.2 percent.
Compared to last month, the March unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 157,000 manufacturing production workers increased by 1.3 to 39.7 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers increased by $0.11 to $28.39, and average weekly earnings increased by $41.13 to $1,127.08.
###
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 March Employment Situationpress release for details.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of March 9-15, 2025
Virginia Works plans to release the March local area unemployment rates on Tuesday April 29, 2025. The data will be available on our website www.VirginiaWorks.com. The April 2025 statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Wednesday May 21, 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.
RICHMOND— Virginia Works announced today that 3,714 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending April 05, 2025, which is 44.2 percent higher than last week’s 2,575 claims and 62.3 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (2,288). A major portion of this increase was due to the Warn Notice from a single manufacturing employer in the southern part of the state.
Nearly 79 percent of claimants self-reported an associated industry; of those reported, the top five industries (71 percent) were Manufacturing (928); Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (490); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (254); Health Care and Social Assistance (212); and Retail Trade (169).
Continued weeks claims (17,598) were 0.2 percent lower than last week (17,625) and were 14.6 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (15,351). Nearly 92 percent of claimants self-reported an associated industry; of those reported, the top five industries (60 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (3,358); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,101); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,565); Retail Trade (1,413); and Manufacturing (1,276).
Significant Layoffs and Announcements are available at the following websites:
Initial Claims – Comparison of Unemployment Insurance Activity
Week Ending04/05/2025
Week Ending03/29/2025
Week Ending03/22/2025
Last Year04/06/2024
Initial Claims
3,714
2,575
2,683
2,288
Initial Change (%)
+1,139 (+44.2%)
-108 (-4.0%)
-458 (-14.6%)
+1,426 (+62.3%)
Continued Claims
17,598
17,625
18,013
15,351
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.
RICHMOND— Virginia Works announced today that 2,575 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending March 29, 2025, which is 4.0 percent lower than last week’s 2,683 claims and 23.7 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (2,081). Nearly 81 percent of claimants self-reported an associated industry; of those reported, the top five industries (60 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (435); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (255); Health Care and Social Assistance (192); Retail Trade (187); and Manufacturing (146).
Continued weeks claims (17,625) were 2.2 percent lower than last week (18,013) and were 15.2 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (15,302). Nearly 92 percent of claimants self-reported an associated industry; of those reported, the top five industries (59 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (3,281); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,111); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,572); Retail Trade (1,410); and Manufacturing (1,250).
Significant Layoffs and Announcements are available at the following websites:
Initial Claims – Comparison of Unemployment Insurance Activity
Week Ending03/29/2025
Week Ending03/22/2025
Week Ending03/15/2025
Last Year03/30/2024
Initial Claims
2,575
2,683
3,141
2,081
Initial Change (%)
-108 (-4.0%)
-458 (-14.6%)
-895 (-22.2%)
+494 (+23.7%)
Continued Claims
17,625
18,013
18,349
15,302
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.
Initial Claims for All States
In the week ending March 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 219,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 224,000 to 225,000. The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 200,057 in the week ending March 29, an increase of 157 (or 0.1 percent) from the previous week. The seasonal factors had expected an increase of 5,403 (or 2.7 percent) from the previous week. There were 197,349 initial claims in the comparable week in 2024.
Initial State Claims (5 largest decreases) (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
State
Initial Claims (this week)
Initial Claims (prior week)
Change
Texas
16,670
17,469
-799
Massachusetts
4,210
4,879
-669
Arizona
3,198
3,777
-579
New Jersey
7,730
8,264
-534
Maryland
2,074
2,552
-478
Initial State Claims (5 largest increases) (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
State
Initial Claims (this week)
Initial Claims (prior week)
Change
Kentucky
5,261
2,448
2,813
Illinois
10,275
8,954
1,321
Iowa
3,133
2,112
1,021
Wisconsin
4,739
3,966
773
California
41,573
40,891
682
All States Initial Weeks Claimed
An initial claim is a claim filed by an unemployed individual after a separation from an employer. The count of U.S. initial claims for unemployment insurance is a leading economic indicator because it is an indication of emerging labor market conditions in the country.
Below is a color-coded map illustrating the percentage change in initial claims from last week to this week across all states nationwide, derived from the latest U.S Department of Labor Weekly Claims News Release (https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf). Green denotes a reduction in continued claims from last week, thus showing improvement, with progressively darker shades of green signifying greater improvement. Purple denotes an increase in continued claims from last week, thus showing deterioration, with progressively darker shades of purple signifying greater deterioration. Very light green, purple or white indicates minimal change from last week. The legend at the bottom provides the color spectrum along with its corresponding percentage value.
RICHMOND— Virginia Works – the Commonwealth’s Department of Workforce Development and Advancement – announced today that Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in February increased slightly by 0.1 percentage points to 3.1 percent, which is 0.3 percentage points above the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in February, the labor force decreased by 5,056 to 4,596,005 as the number of unemployed residents increased by 3,154 to 140,211. The number of employed residents decreased by 8,210 to 4,455,794. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 1.0 percentage points below the national rate, which increased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.1 percent.
The Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 65.7 percent in February. 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 February, Virginia’s nonagricultural employment, from the monthly establishment survey decreased by 1,000 to 4,266,100. January’s preliminary estimate of employment, after revision, decreased by 13,900 to 4,267,100. In February, private sector employment decreased by 200 to 3,500,600 while government employment decreased by 800 to 765,500. Within that sector, federal government jobs decreased by 600 to 196,100, state government employment decreased by 1,400 to 160,800, and local government increased by 1,200 to 408,600 over the month.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for eleven industry sectors. In February, six experienced over-the-month job gains, and five experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Construction (+4,200) to 218,800. The second largest job gain occurred in Education and Health Services (+2,100) to 631,100. The third largest job gain occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,000) to 677,900. The other gains were in Manufacturing (+1,000) to 242,400; Miscellaneous Services (+300) to 204,800; and Financial Activities (+200) to 220,400.
The largest job loss occurred in Professional and Business Services (-6,300) to 810,700. The second largest job loss occurred in Leisure and Hospitality (-2,400) to 416,900. The third largest job loss occurred in Information (-1,200) to 70,500. The other losses were in Government (-800) to 765,500; and Mining and Logging (-100) to 7,100.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia* Seasonally Adjusted
Industry
Employment
January 2025 to February 2025
February 2024 to February 2025
February 2025
January 2025
February 2024
Change
% Change
Change
% Change
Total Nonfarm
4,266,100
4,267,100
4,212,000
-1,000
-0.0%
54,100
1.3%
Total Private
3,500,600
3,500,800
3,462,600
-200
-0.0%
38,000
1.1%
Goods Producing
468,300
463,200
469,100
5,100
1.1%
-800
-0.2%
Mining and Logging
7,100
7,200
7,300
-100
-1.4%
-200
-2.7%
Construction
218,800
214,600
217,000
4,200
2.0%
1,800
0.8%
Manufacturing
242,400
241,400
244,800
1,000
0.4%
-2,400
-1.0%
Service-Providing
3,797,800
3,803,900
3,742,900
-6,100
-0.2%
54,900
1.5%
Private Service Providing
3,032,300
3,037,600
2,993,500
-5,300
-0.2%
38,800
1.3%
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
677,900
675,900
675,500
2,000
0.3%
2,400
0.4%
Information
70,500
71,700
69,900
-1,200
-1.7%
600
0.9%
Financial Activities
220,400
220,200
220,900
200
0.1%
-500
-0.2%
Professional and Business Services
810,700
817,000
808,800
-6,300
-0.8%
1,900
0.2%
Education and Health Services
631,100
629,000
599,100
2,100
0.3%
32,000
5.3%
Leisure and Hospitality
416,900
419,300
415,500
-2,400
-0.6%
1,400
0.3%
Miscellaneous Services
204,800
204,500
203,800
300
0.1%
1,000
0.5%
Government
765,500
766,300
749,400
-800
-0.1%
16,100
2.1%
Federal Government
196,100
196,700
192,300
-600
-0.3%
3,800
2.0%
State Government
160,800
162,200
159,200
-1,400
-0.9%
1,600
1.0%
Local Government
408,600
407,400
397,900
1,200
0.3%
10,700
2.7%
*Current month’s estimates are preliminary.
From February 2024 to February 2025, Virginia Works estimates that total nonfarm employment in Virginia increased by 54,100 to 4,266,100, private sector employment increased by 38,000 to 3,500,600, and government employment increased by 16,100 to 765,500 jobs. Within that sector, federal government jobs increased by 3,800 to 196,100, state government employment increased by 1,600 to 160,800, and local government increased by 10,700 to 408,600 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 (+32,000) to 631,100. The second largest job gain occurred in Government (+16,100) to 765,500. The third largest job gain occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,400) to 677,900. The other gains were in Professional and Business Services (+1,900) to 810,700; Construction (+1,800) to 218,800; Leisure and Hospitality (+1,400) to 416,900; Miscellaneous Services (+1,000) to 204,800; and Information (+600) to 70,500.
The largest job loss occurred in Manufacturing (-2,400) to 242,400. The second largest job loss occurred in Financial Activities (-500) to 220,400. The third largest job loss occurred in Mining and Logging (-200) to 7,100.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia* Seasonally Adjusted
Area
Employment
January 2025 to February 2025
February 2024 to February 2025
February 2025
January 2025
February 2024
Change
% Change
Change
% Change
Virginia
4,266,100
4,267,100
4,212,000
-1,000
-0.0%
54,100
1.3%
Arlington-Alexandria MSA
1,633,700
1,633,000
1,608,100
700
0.0%
25,600
1.6%
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA
81,700
82,700
83,800
-1,000
-1.2%
-2,100
-2.5%
Charlottesville MSA
125,800
125,700
123,300
100
0.1%
2,500
2.0%
Harrisonburg MSA
71,000
71,700
72,000
-700
-1.0%
-1,000
-1.4%
Lynchburg MSA
104,200
104,500
104,300
-300
-0.3%
-100
-0.1%
Richmond MSA
724,900
725,400
713,500
-500
-0.1%
11,400
1.6%
Roanoke MSA
167,900
168,200
166,800
-300
-0.2%
1,100
0.7%
Staunton MSA
54,100
54,100
54,000
0
0.0%
100
0.2%
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk MSA
824,800
827,000
819,800
-2,200
-0.3%
5,000
0.6%
Winchester MSA
74,000
73,800
72,900
200
0.3%
1,100
1.5%
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In February, three experienced over-the-month job gains, one remained unchanged, and six experienced a decline. The largest job gain occurred in Arlington-Alexandria (+700) to 1,633,700. The second largest job gain occurred in Winchester (+200) to 74,000. The third largest job gain occurred in Charlottesville (+100) to 125,800.
The largest job loss occurred in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (-2,200) to 824,800. The second largest job loss occurred in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (-1,000) to 81,700. The third largest job loss occurred in Harrisonburg (-700) to 71,000. The other losses were in Richmond (-500) to 724,900; Lynchburg (-300) to 104,200; and Roanoke (-300) to 167,900. Staunton remained unchanged.
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 (+25,600) to 1,633,700. The second largest job gain occurred in Richmond (+11,400) to 724,900. The third largest job gain occurred in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (+5,000) to 824,800. The other gains were in Charlottesville (+2,500) to 125,800; Roanoke (+1,100) to 167,900; Winchester (+1,100) to 74,000; and Staunton (+100) to 54,100.
The largest job loss occurred in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford (-2,100) to 81,700. The second largest job loss occurred in Harrisonburg (-1,000) to 71,000. The third largest job loss occurred in Lynchburg (-100) to 104,200.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 3.3 percent in February. It has increased by 0.4 percentage points to 3.3 percent compared to last year. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed increased by 19,485 to 150,248, household employment decreased by 27,538 to 4,403,442, and the labor force decreased by 8,053 to 4,553,690. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 1.2 percentage points below the national unadjusted rate, which increased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.5 percent.
Compared to last month, the February unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 155,800 manufacturing production workers decreased by 0.4 to 38.6 hours. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production workers increased by $0.31 to $28.40, and average weekly earnings increased by $0.73 to $1,096.24.
###
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 February Employment Situationpress release for details.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of February 9-15, 2025
Virginia Works plans to release the February local area unemployment rates on Wednesday April 09, 2025. The data will be available on our website www.VirginiaWorks.com. The March 2025 statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Friday April 18, 2025.
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