April 2025 | Released May 21, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 5, rose in 20, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 40 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Virginia Employment Snapshot

• In April, Virginia added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Virginia added 6,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Virginia added 47,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 2.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Virginia’s private sector added 1,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 35,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia added 9,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Virginia fell by 13,845, and over the past 12 months it fell by 23,491.

• Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 65.4 percent in April from 65.5 percent and ranks 13th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Virginia Payroll Employment

• Virginia added 500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Virginia added 6,700 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Virginia added 1,100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Virginia added 9,100 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 167,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Virginia ranks 21st 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 Construction (4,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-1,300) and Manufacturing (-1,300).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (26,100) and Government (12,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-1,600) and Professional and Business Services (-5,200).

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 65.4 percent in April from 65.5 percent in the prior month.

• Virginia ranks 13th 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 rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in April.