January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
Virginia Employment Snapshot
In January, Virginia added 7,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Virginia added 14,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Virginia added 74,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 2.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Virginia’s private sector added 2,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 51,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia added 10,000 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Virginia rose by 769, and over the past 12 months it rose by 18,675.
Virginia’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65.8 percent in January and is tied for 12th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.
Virginia Payroll Employment
Virginia added 7,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Virginia added 14,200 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in each of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Virginia added 2,300 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Virginia added 10,000 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 8th 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 January were Education and Health Services (5,000) and Government (4,800).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,100) and Construction (-2,900).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (33,900) and Government (23,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction tied with Financial Activities (-500) and Manufacturing (-3,800).
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 remained unchanged at 65.8 percent in January.
Virginia is tied for 12th 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 January.