United States Employment Snapshot



Virginia Employment Snapshot




Virginia Payroll Employment


  • Virginia lost 5,800 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Virginia lost 4,500 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

  • Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 142,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

  • Virginia lost 5,700 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Virginia added 700 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

  • Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 118,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 18th 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 August were Leisure and Hospitality (3,200) and Construction (2,300).

  • The poorest performing sectors during the month were Education and Health Services (-3,100) and Professional and Business Services (-5,000).

  • The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (20,000) and Construction (11,800).

  • The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (-100) and Financial Activities (-3,300).



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.