Virginia unemployment falls during February

Virginia’s unemployment rate dipped to 3.9 percent in February, the lowest level it has reached in more than eight years.

The Virginia Employment Commission reported on Friday that the state’s jobless rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point in February while the labor force expanded for the 11th consecutive month to 4.28 million.

The VEC said February’s jobless rate is the lowest recorded in Virginia since June 2008.

The VEC report is based on seasonally adjusted numbers, meaning they take into account seasonal changes in the labor force.

The Virginia labor force rose by 7,333 people in February while the number of unemployed declined by 6,074.

The commonwealth’s total nonfarm employment increased by 11,400 jobs during the month to 3.96 million, the third straight monthly increase.

Employment rose in eight major industry divisions and fell in three. The biggest increase occurred in private education and health services, which rose by 5,400 jobs to 539,600 positions. That employment segment had lost jobs during the previous three months.

The largest job loss during February occurred in construction, down 3,200 jobs to 186,100.

Northern Virginia posted the biggest jobs gain in Virginia’s largest metro areas, up 6,500.