From a release

RICHMOND—Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.5% in June, up 0.1 percentage points from May but still below the national rate of 4.1%, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 8,400 jobs over the month, driven largely by reductions in federal and federal contractor positions. However, year-over-year employment remains up by 35,600 jobs since June 2024. Since January 2022, total nonfarm employment in Virginia has grown by 263,700.

Governor Glenn Youngkin noted that while federal job cuts were expected, the private sector and defense-related hiring continue to grow. “The growth in non-federal jobs over the course of the year, nearly 200,000 open and unfilled positions, and 80,000 new jobs tied to $120 billion in business investment will provide opportunities for those affected by federal reductions,” Youngkin said.

Virginia’s labor force shrank by 10,116 to 4,558,145 in June. The number of unemployed residents rose by 4,025 to 160,116, and the labor force participation rate dropped 0.2 percentage points to 65.0%.

Labor Secretary Bryan Slater said the state continues to expand access to job training and apprenticeships. Commerce and Trade Secretary Juan Pablo Segura emphasized long-term support for business growth and workforce development.

The BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) and Current Employment Statistics (CES) programs measure employment using different methods. LAUS relies on household surveys, while CES counts payroll jobs and excludes business owners, the self-employed, and certain unpaid workers.

More data is available at https://virginiaworks.com.

Edited by Dan McDermott