United States Employment Snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 21.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in North Dakota and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Minnesota.
Virginia Employment Snapshot
In May, Virginia added 8,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.7 percent. In the prior month, Virginia added 6,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Virginia added 81,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2.6 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Virginia ranks 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Virginia’s private sector added 6,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 63,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia added 7,900 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Virginia fell by 974, and over the past 12 months it rose by 24,148.
Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.3 percent in May from 66.4 percent and ranks 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
Virginia Payroll Employment
Virginia added 8,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. 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 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Virginia ranks 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Virginia added 6,100 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Virginia added 7,900 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Virginia is tied for 14th 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 May were Education and Health Services (4,700) and Government (2,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-500) and Professional and Business Services (-2,200).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (30,600) and Government (18,500).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (0) and Information (-1,000).
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 66.3 percent in May from 66.4 percent in the prior month.
Virginia ranks 9th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Virginia was 66.6 percent occurring in February 2024, and the 10-year low was 63.4 percent occurring in February 2021.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.