June 2026 | Released July 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In June, Virginia added 5,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Virginia lost 6,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Virginia lost 43,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Virginia is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Virginia’s private sector added 1,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 42,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia lost 8,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Virginia fell by 8,239, and over the past 12 months it fell by 65,202.

• Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.1 percent in June from 63.3 percent and is tied for 20th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.

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Virginia

Payroll employment

• Virginia added 5,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Virginia lost 6,700 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Virginia is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Virginia added 1,800 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Virginia lost 8,200 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. Virginia ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+3,300) and State and Local Government (+3,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-1,600) and Financial Activities (-1,200).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+18,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-20,500) and Federal Government (-19,000).

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 63.1 percent in June from 63.3 percent in the prior month.

• Virginia is tied for 20th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Virginia was 66.1 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 63.1 percent in June 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.