November 2025 | Released January 08, 2026
Download the full PDF for Virginia
Download the summary PDF for Virginia
United States
Employment snapshot
- The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota.
- In November, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 15. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.3 percent in Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, and Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in New Hampshire.
Virginia
Employment snapshot
In November, Virginia added 8,600 net payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia lost 20,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Virginia added 8,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 2.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Virginia is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In November, Virginia’s private sector added 7,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia lost 10,800 net private payroll jobs.
Virginia
Payroll employment
- Virginia added 8,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Virginia lost 20,100 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Virginia is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Virginia added 7,200 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Virginia lost 10,800 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 69,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 30th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From October 2025 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+4,400) and State and Local Government (+1,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-200) and Information (-200).
From November 2024 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+21,300) and State and Local Government (+14,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-22,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-8,300).
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.
- Virginia ranks 15th in the nation.