Governor Glenn Youngkin announced an increase in Virginia’s nonfarm payroll employment by 1,200 jobs in May, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics Survey. This brings the total number of nonfarm payroll jobs to 4,276,100, marking a rise of 49,400 since May 2024 and an increase of 271,500 since January 2022.
“The continued growth in nonfarm payrolls underscores the strength of Virginia’s job market,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “The addition of 1,200 jobs in May, along with the upward revision of 2,200 jobs in April, reflects Virginia’s financial strength, driven by companies growing and hiring more Virginians.”
The BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics reported that Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly by 0.1 percentage points to 3.4 percent in May. This is still below the national rate which remained at 4.2 percent.
“The growth in nonfarm payroll employment shows that Virginia’s labor market remains resilient,” stated Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater. “We are committed to equipping our workforce with the tools they need to succeed.”
Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 65.2 percent but remains above the national average which also decreased to 62.4 percent. The state’s labor force reduced by over eleven thousand as both employed residents and unemployed numbers saw changes.
“The 1,200 jobs added in April reflect our efforts to attract new business investments and create diverse economic opportunities for our communities,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura.
The CES survey uses employer payroll records for job counts while the LAUS survey gathers household interview data monthly for employment statistics.
For further information on these statistics visit https://virginiaworks.com/.
