Advertisement

Header Utility Menu

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Events

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

  • Login

Virginia Business

Mobile Menu

  • Issues
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Advertisement

Header Primary Menu

  • Issues
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • Issues Archive
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Home News Va. unemployment rate dropped to 3.6% in October

Va. unemployment rate dropped to 3.6% in October

October marks 17th month of declining rate

Published November 19, 2021 by Katherine Schulte

In October, Virginia’s unemployment rate fell to 3.6%, 0.2 points below September’s rate, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The state’s unemployment rate has declined for 17 months straight.

In October 2020, the jobless rate was at 5.3%, 2.5 points higher than last month.

The labor force increased by 5,918 to almost 4.26 million, and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 7,566 from September, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Friday. The state recorded over-the-year job gains of 2%. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which was 4.6% last month.

“Virginia’s economy is making great strides, with the lowest unemployment rate since the COVID-19 pandemic began,” Northam said in a statement. “The positive trend is the result of careful fiscal management and our extensive work to make Virginia a welcoming and open place. This approach has served Virginia well and continuing it will deliver further economic gains for the commonwealth.”

The number of employed Virginians increased by 13,484 to 4.1 million in October. The private sector saw an increase of 13,500 jobs to 3.2 million total, while public sector jobs increased by 5,900 to 719,800 total, according to VEC.

Employment rose in eight of 11 major industry sectors, declined in one and was unchanged in two, construction and finance. The largest job gain during October occurred in leisure and hospitality, with an increase of 7,200 jobs to total 357,800. The second largest increase was in government, which gained 5,900 jobs for a total of 719,800. The other industries with increases were trade and transportation, professional and business services, education and health services, information, mining and miscellaneous services.

Manufacturing was the only sector to see job loss, losing 3,500 jobs, which dropped the total to 235,300.

The VEC reported that nine of Virginia’s 10 metropolitan areas saw nonfarm job gains during October, with Northern Virginia gaining 6,500 jobs and the Virginia-Beach-Norfolk-Newport News area taking second with 2,400 jobs. Roanoke did not see a change in nonfarm jobs.

Virginia has seen a decrease in initial unemployment claims in the last few weeks, with claims hovering around 1,000 to 2,000. In the most recent filing week that the VEC has reported, the department recorded 1,290 new claims.

Subscribe to Virginia Business. Get our daily e-newsletter.

Related Stories

Virginia Business logo

Va. unemployment rate dropped to 3.8% in September

September marks 16th month of declining rate

Va. jobless claims continued to decrease last week

New claims hovering at 6K for past few weeks

Va. sees small decrease in new jobless claims

After weeks of fluctuation, numbers were steady last week

Trending

Norfolk’s MacArthur Center mall listed for sale

Making strides

It’s back!

After the crisis

Fort Monroe development moving forward

Sponsored Stories

What Logistics issues will have the biggest impact on you in 2023?

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending

Norfolk’s MacArthur Center mall listed for sale

Making strides

It’s back!

After the crisis

Fort Monroe development moving forward

Sponsored Stories

What Logistics issues will have the biggest impact on you in 2023?

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Get Virginia Business directly on your tablet or in your mailbox!

Subscribe to Virginia Business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Footer Primary Menu

  • virginiabusiness.com
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Footer Secondary Menu

  • Industries
  • Regions
  • Reports
  • Company News
  • Events

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign Up

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Footer Utility Menu

Copyright © 2023 Virginia Business. All rights reserved.

Site Maintained by TechArk