United States Employment Snapshot
In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 10, and remained unchanged in 26.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in California. The lowest unemployment rate was 2 percent in North Dakota and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.9 percent.
In April, payroll jobs rose in 39 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in South Dakota.
Virginia Employment Snapshot
In April, Virginia added 3,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.8 percent. In the prior month, Virginia added 18,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Virginia added 76,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 175,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In April, Virginia’s private sector added 7,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 62,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia added 12,900 net private payroll jobs.
In April, employment in Virginia rose by 517, and over the past 12 months it rose by 30,892.
Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.4 percent in April from 66.5 percent and ranks 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
Virginia Payroll Employment
Virginia added 3,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Virginia added 18,200 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 175,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Virginia added 7,000 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Virginia added 12,900 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 167,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during April were Education and Health Services (2,500) and Professional and Business Services (1,800).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,600) and Government (-3,600).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (25,500) and Government (14,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (0) and Information (-900).
Virginia Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Virginia fell to 66.4 percent in April from 66.5 percent in the prior month.
Virginia ranks 9th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Virginia was 66.6 percent occurring in February 2024, and the 10-year low was 63.4 percent occurring in February 2021.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.7 percent in April.