RICHMOND— Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage point in February to 2.6 percent, which is 0.4 percentage point below the rate from a year ago. According to household survey data in February, the labor force expanded for the twentieth consecutive month by 8,789, or 0.2 percent, to set a new record high of 4,462,717, as the number of unemployed residents fell by 1,049. The number of employed residents increased by 9,838 to set a new high of 4,345,451. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which was little changed at 3.5 percent.
Virginia nonagricultural wage and salary employment, from the monthly establishment survey, rose by 11,100 jobs in February to 4,106,800. January’s preliminary estimates were revised upward 4,000, adding to that month’s job growth. In February, private sector employment increased by 10,300 jobs to 3,372,000, while public sector payrolls increased by 800 jobs to 734,800.
From January 2020 to February 2020, seasonally adjusted employment increased in seven major industry divisions and decreased in four. The largest job gain during February occurred in leisure and hospitality with a gain of 3,400 jobs to 423,400. Other employment gains included finance (2,400 jobs) to 217,200, professional and business services (2,400 jobs) to 779,600, manufacturing (2,100 jobs) to 242,500, private education and health services (2,100 jobs) to 563,800, and information (+500 jobs) to 69,000. The largest loss during February occurred in construction (-1,200 jobs) to 203,700. The second largest loss was miscellaneous services (-700 jobs) to 202,700. The third largest employment loss was trade and transportation (-600 jobs) to 662,400. For total government, gains occurred in federal government (600 jobs) and state government (200 jobs) while local government was unchanged.
Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
|
Industry |
Employment |
January 2020 to |
February 2019 to |
||||
|
February |
January |
February |
Change |
% Change |
Change |
% Change |
|
|
Total Nonfarm |
4,106,800 |
4,095,700 |
4,043,400 |
11,100 |
0.3% |
63,400 |
1.6% |
|
Total Private Sector |
3,372,000 |
3,361,700 |
3,316,300 |
10,300 |
0.3% |
55,700 |
1.7% |
|
Goods-Producing |
453,900 |
453,100 |
454,500 |
800 |
0.2% |
-600 |
-0.1% |
|
Mining |
7,700 |
7,800 |
7,900 |
-100 |
-1.3% |
-200 |
-2.5% |
|
Construction |
203,700 |
204,900 |
202,500 |
-1,200 |
-0.6% |
1,200 |
0.6% |
|
Manufacturing |
242,500 |
240,400 |
244,100 |
2,100 |
0.9% |
-1,600 |
-0.7% |
|
Service-Providing |
3,652,900 |
3,642,600 |
3,588,900 |
10,300 |
0.3% |
64,000 |
1.8% |
|
Private Service-Providing |
2,918,100 |
2,908,600 |
2,861,800 |
9,500 |
0.3% |
56,300 |
2.0% |
|
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities |
662,400 |
663,000 |
659,900 |
-600 |
-0.1% |
2,500 |
0.4% |
|
Information |
69,000 |
68,500 |
67,400 |
500 |
0.7% |
1,600 |
2.4% |
|
Finance |
217,200 |
214,800 |
210,700 |
2,400 |
1.1% |
6,500 |
3.1% |
|
Professional and Business Services |
779,600 |
777,200 |
760,000 |
2,400 |
0.3% |
19,600 |
2.6% |
|
Education and Health Services |
563,800 |
561,700 |
551,300 |
2,100 |
0.4% |
12,500 |
2.3% |
|
Leisure and Hospitality Services |
423,400 |
420,000 |
410,600 |
3,400 |
0.8% |
12,800 |
3.1% |
|
Miscellaneous Services |
202,700 |
203,400 |
201,900 |
-700 |
-0.3% |
800 |
0.4% |
|
Government |
734,800 |
734,000 |
727,100 |
800 |
0.1% |
7,700 |
1.1% |
|
Federal Government |
183,200 |
182,600 |
181,200 |
600 |
0.3% |
2,000 |
1.1% |
|
State Government |
162,700 |
162,500 |
160,300 |
200 |
0.1% |
2,400 |
1.5% |
|
Local Government |
388,900 |
388,900 |
385,600 |
0 |
0.0% |
3,300 |
0.9% |
*Current month’s estimates are preliminary.
From February 2019 to February 2020, BLS estimates that establishments in Virginia added 63,400 jobs, or 1.6 percent. Over-the-year employment growth in Virginia has been positive for 71 consecutive months and gained momentum in recent months. In February, the private sector recorded an over-the-year gain of 55,700 jobs, while employment in the public sector added 7,700 jobs.
Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, nine of the eleven major industry divisions experienced employment gains, while two experienced employment losses. The largest over-the-year job gain occurred in professional and business services, up 19,600 jobs (+2.6 percent). The next largest over-the-year job gain occurred in leisure and hospitality, up 12,800 jobs (+3.1 percent). Private education and health services experienced the third largest over-the-year job gain of 12,500 jobs (+2.3 percent). Government experienced an over-the-year increase of 7,700 jobs (+1.1 percent). Within government, there were increases in local government employment (3,300 jobs), state government employment (2,400 jobs) and federal government employment (2,000 jobs). Other gains were in finance, up 6,500 jobs (+3.1 percent); trade and transportation, up 2,500 jobs (+0.4 percent); information, up 1,600 jobs (+2.4 percent); and construction, up 1,200 jobs (+0.6 percent). Job losses occurred in manufacturing, down 1,600 jobs (-0.7 percent), and mining, down 200 jobs (-2.5 percent).
Total Nonfarm Employment in Virginia*
Seasonally Adjusted
|
Area |
Employment |
January 2020 to |
February 2019 to |
||||
|
February |
January |
February |
Change |
% Change |
Change |
% Change |
|
|
Virginia |
4,106,800 |
4,095,700 |
4,043,400 |
11,100 |
0.3% |
63,400 |
1.6% |
|
Blacksburg-Christiansburg- |
78,500 |
78,400 |
78,500 |
100 |
0.1% |
0 |
0.0% |
|
Charlottesville MSA |
122,700 |
122,800 |
119,900 |
-100 |
-0.1% |
2,800 |
2.3% |
|
Harrisonburg MSA |
70,100 |
70,100 |
69,300 |
0 |
0.0% |
800 |
1.2% |
|
Lynchburg MSA |
105,400 |
105,100 |
106,400 |
300 |
0.3% |
-1,000 |
-0.9% |
|
Northern Virginia MSA |
1,534,600 |
1,529,700 |
1,504,400 |
4,900 |
0.3% |
30,200 |
2.0% |
|
Richmond MSA |
698,000 |
695,800 |
685,000 |
2,200 |
0.3% |
13,000 |
1.9% |
|
Roanoke MSA |
162,400 |
162,100 |
163,100 |
300 |
0.2% |
-700 |
-0.4% |
|
Staunton-Waynesboro MSA |
52,200 |
52,000 |
51,600 |
200 |
0.4% |
600 |
1.2% |
|
Virginia Beach- |
800,100 |
798,500 |
796,000 |
1,600 |
0.2% |
4,100 |
0.5% |
|
Winchester, |
66,800 |
66,300 |
65,400 |
500 |
0.8% |
1,400 |
2.1% |
*Current month’s estimates are preliminary.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment data is produced for ten metropolitan areas. In February, eight metropolitan areas experienced over-the-month job gains, one was unchanged, and one experienced job loss. The largest absolute job gain occurred in Northern Virginia (+4,900 jobs). The second largest absolute job gain occurred in Richmond (+2,200 jobs). The third largest absolute job gain was in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (+1,600 jobs). Others with gains include Winchester (+500 jobs), Lynchburg (+300 jobs), Roanoke (+300 jobs), and Staunton-Waynesboro (+200 jobs). The sole job loss occurred in Charlottesville (-100 jobs).
Over the year, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased in seven of the ten metropolitan areas. The Northern Virginia metropolitan area experienced the largest absolute job gain, up 30,200 jobs (+2.0 percent). Richmond ranked second, with a gain of 13,000 jobs (+1.9 percent). Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News ranked third, with a gain of 4,100 jobs (+0.5 percent). The other over-the-year job gains occurred in Charlottesville (+2,800 jobs), Winchester (+1,400 jobs), Harrisonburg (+800 jobs), and Staunton (+600 jobs). Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford and Harrisonburg was unchanged over-the-year. Job losses occurred in Lynchburg (-1,000 jobs) and Roanoke (-700 jobs).
Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
Virginia’s unadjusted unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage point in February to 2.8 percent, and was down 0.3 percentage point from a year ago. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployed decreased by 14,525, household employment increased by 108,004, and the labor force increased by 93,479. Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national unadjusted rate, which decreased 0.2 percentage point in February to 3.8 percent.
Compared to last month, the February unadjusted workweek for Virginia’s 164,000 manufacturing production workers increased by 0.4 hour to 39.6 hours, average hourly earnings was unchanged at $19.25, while average weekly earnings rose $7.70 to $762.30. Compared to last February, the unadjusted workweek decreased by 0.5 hour, average hourly earnings decreased by $0.55, and average weekly earnings were lower by $31.68.
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.
The statistical reference week for the household survey this month was the week of February 9-15, 2020.
The Virginia Employment Commission plans to release the February local area unemployment rates on Wednesday, April 8, 2020. The data will be available on our website, www.VirginiaWorks.com.
The March statewide unemployment rate and employment data for both the state and metropolitan areas are scheduled to be released on Friday, April 17, 2020.
Files detailing February’s unemployment numbers are available below:
PDF of Press Release