Virginia unemployment rate rises

Published March 22, 2019 by Robert Powell, III

Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly in February to 2.9 percent.

The Virginia Employment Commission said the jobless rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point from 2.8 percent in January. That rate was the lowest seen in Virginia since April 2001.

The February rate was down three-tenths of a percentage point from February 2018. The national unemployment rate for February was 3.8 percent.

Virginia’s nonfarm employment decreased by 3,000 jobs in February to 4,026,000.

Private sector employment decreased by 2,400 jobs to 3,302,700, while public sector payrolls fell by 600 jobs to 723,300.

Employment decreased during February in five major industry divisions, increased in four, and remained unchanged in mining at 7,900 and in finance at 207,600.

The largest job loss during February occurred in the information sector, which decreased by 1,400 jobs to 63,900.

The largest job gain during the month occurred in the professional and business services sector, which added 700 jobs to 757,700.