Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the state’s unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent in September, which is 0.9 percentage points below the national rate of 4.4 percent. Over the past year, Virginia has added 28,200 nonfarm jobs, and since January 2022, total nonfarm employment has increased by 273,800 according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Revised estimates for August showed an increase of 1,800 jobs compared to previous reports. Preliminary seasonally adjusted payroll data from BLS indicated a decrease of 5,000 jobs in September, attributed entirely to a model-based reduction in state government employment. However, administrative payroll records from the Commonwealth indicate that actual state government employment rose during this period. Officials expect a significant upward revision of job numbers in future reports.
Governor Youngkin stated: “Virginia’s job market continues to demonstrate sustained strength, with more than 270,000 jobs added since this administration began. The reported decline in state government employment reflects a statistical adjustment, not a real reduction. Our own payroll data show job growth continuing across state government and throughout the Commonwealth. Employment is rising, investment is accelerating, and opportunities continue to expand for Virginians.”
The BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics preliminary release showed that Virginia’s labor force decreased by 7,418 people to a total of 4,540,292 as the number of unemployed residents declined by 2,631 to reach 160,199. The state’s labor force participation rate dropped by 0.1 percentage points to stand at 64.6 percent in September.
Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater commented: “This month’s report shows encouraging signs: unemployment fell, and Virginia’s long-term job growth remains solid. Over the year, tens of thousands of Virginians have moved into jobs, and we will keep building on that progress by supporting workers, strengthening our talent pipelines, and ensuring every employer can find the skilled labor they need.”
Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura said: “Virginia’s broader employment trends remain strong. Businesses in Virginia have created tens of thousands of jobs in the past year, over a quarter-million since this administration began, and we anticipate over 85,000 jobs will be created through recent investment announcements. We’re continuing to attract new investment, expand existing industries, and position the Commonwealth for even stronger economic performance in the months ahead.”
The LAUS survey collects household interview data each month for BLS about employed and unemployed residents; it differs from establishment surveys like CES which count employees on payrolls but exclude business owners or those not receiving wages due to various reasons.
Further details are available at https://virginiaworks.com/.
