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The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits last week rises to highest level in eight months
Unemployment claims rose to 247,000, an 8-month high, as tariff uncertainty and corporate job cuts weigh on the U.S. labor market and economic outlook.
Virginia tightens noncompete rules for more workers
Virginia's new law bans noncompete agreements for non-exempt employees, expanding protections for more workers starting July 1, 2025.
Virginia unemployment claims rise amid federal layoffs
Virginia jobless claims rose in early May, with experts citing federal spending cuts, tariffs and contract reductions as key factors in the surge.
US manufacturing worsens in March
TEMPE, Ariz. — U.S. manufacturing output contracted in March after two months of growth, which were preceded by 26 straight months of contraction. The Institute for Supply Management, which polls manufacturers, issued a monthly index of 49% for March, down 1.3 points from February. Any number below 50 indicates contraction. “In March, U.S. manufacturing activity […]
Applications for jobless benefits inch up, but layoffs remain low, labor market healthy
Slightly more Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain historically low. U.S. jobless claims filings rose by 2,000 to 223,000 for the week ending March 15, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s just less than the 224,000 new applications analysts forecast. Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered a proxy for layoffs, […]
While Youngkin celebrates Virginia’s labor force gains, economists warn of future unemployment
Gov. Glenn Youngkin says he feels good about the state’s employment landscape. In an announcement Tuesday, the governor celebrated that Virginia added 7,100 more jobs in January 2025, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). “More Virginians are working than ever in the commonwealth as jobs and opportunity continue to expand […]
Va. economic outlook is positive, says Weldon Cooper Center forecast
Virginia’s long-term economic outlook is positive, according to the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service’s inaugural economic forecast released Monday. Weldon Cooper economists predict Virginia’s gross domestic product in 2025 will increase 2.4%, outpacing national GDP growth. The U.S. GDP’s growth is expected to be 1.9% this year, slower t[...]
All eyes on noncompetes
EDITOR’S NOTE: On Aug. 20, a federal judge in Texas ruled against the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on noncompete agreements, which was scheduled to go into effect Sept. 4. In striking down the FTC’s pending rule, U.S. District Judge Ada Brown called it “arbitrary and capricious” and an “unlawful agency action.” An FTC spokesperson said […]
Virginia saw 15,000 jobs created in June
Virginia reported 15,000 jobs created in June, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday. Overall, the commonwealth has seen 258,000 jobs created since January 2022, according to the news release from the governor’s office. “The jobs report is yet another good sign about the resiliency of the Virginia economy,” Bob McNab, an economist at Old Dominion University, […]
Fed’s Fifth District shows modest economic growth
The economy in the Federal Reserve‘s Fifth District (a multistate region including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland) grew modestly in recent weeks, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released May 29. Published eight times per year, the Beige Book is based on anecdotal information about economic conditions […]
Fed’s Fifth District economy grows slightly
The economy in the Federal Reserve‘s Fifth District (a multistate region including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland) grew slightly in recent weeks, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released April 17. Published eight times per year, the Beige Book is based on anecdotal information about economic conditions [&hellip[...]
Slow and steady
The Lynchburg region has seen the slowest job growth of any metro area in Virginia over the past three years, according to economic analyses, and it typically has a higher unemployment rate than the state average. But there’s more to the story, some officials say. For instance, the Lynchburg region saw 23 inquiries from economic […]
