June 2025 | Released July 18, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 11, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 33.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Alaska. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Rhode Island.

Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In June, Virginia lost 8,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Virginia added 1,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Virginia added 35,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 2.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 147,000 in June, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Virginia’s private sector lost 8,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 28,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia added 4,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Virginia fell by 14,141, and over the past 12 months it fell by 55,839.

• Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 65 percent in June from 65.2 percent and ranks 14th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.

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Virginia

Payroll employment

• Virginia lost 8,400 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Virginia added 1,800 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 147,000 in June, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Virginia lost 8,200 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Virginia added 4,700 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 74,000 jobs in June, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2025 to June 2025:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+2,300) and Construction (+1,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,500) and Federal Government (-2,500).

From June 2024 to June 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+23,100) and State and Local Government (+15,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-7,800) and Professional and Business Services (-6,900).

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 65 percent in June from 65.2 percent in the prior month.

• Virginia ranks 14th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Virginia was 66.3 percent occurring in August 2023, and the 10-year low was 63.4 percent occurring in February 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.3 percent in June.