Virginia’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.5 percent in September, according to an announcement from Governor Glenn Youngkin. This rate is 0.9 percentage points lower than the national average, which rose to 4.4 percent during the same period.
The state recorded a gain of 28,200 nonfarm jobs over the past year, and since January 2022, total nonfarm employment has increased by 273,800, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). August’s job estimates were revised upward by 1,800 jobs to a total of 9,000.
Preliminary seasonally adjusted data from BLS indicated a decrease of 5,000 jobs in September. This decline was attributed entirely to a model-based reduction in state government employment. However, administrative payroll records from the Commonwealth showed that actual state government employment increased during this period. Officials expect future revisions will reflect thousands more jobs added.
Governor Glenn 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 (LAUS) preliminary release found that Virginia’s labor force decreased by 7,418 to just over 4.54 million people as the number of unemployed residents declined by 2,631 to about 160,199. The labor force participation rate fell slightly by 0.1 percentage points to reach 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 monthly household interviews for BLS and provides detailed information on both employed and unemployed individuals within the labor force. Establishment survey data incorporates updates such as seasonal adjustment factors and industry classification changes as part of annual benchmarking.
For additional information about these statistics or related labor market details in Virginia visit https://virginiaworks.com/.
