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Virginia unemployment spike ‘an economic shock,’ economist says
For the week ending May 10, 3,992 people filed initial unemployment insurance claims which is 46.8% higher than the previous week's 2,720 claims and a 67.3% increase over a comparable week last year (2,386).
Virginia could lose 32,000 jobs in 2025, U.Va. estimates
Virginia may lose 32,000 jobs in 2025 amid federal cuts and rising unemployment, according to a new forecast by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.
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.
Fed holds interest rate at 4.3% amid tariff and inflation uncertainty
The Fed kept rates steady at 4.3%, citing rising risks of inflation and unemployment due to Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imports from China and beyond.
Is slight rise in Virginia unemployment ‘calm before storm?’
Virginia’s unemployment rate numbers are on a slight rise, according to data from the state’s Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, also known as Virginia Works. The state agency reports that Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March rose a tenth of a percentage point to 3.2 % compared to 3.1% in February and 2.8% […]
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, […]
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[...]
Va. labor market stayed strong in February
Virginia’s labor market remained strong in February, although growth is slowing, according to employment data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Virginia had a net gain of 3,200 jobs in February. The Virginia state government employment was previously 12,000 jobs below the February 2020 level, but the state government nearly halved that deficit last […]
Economic growth to continue slowing, ODU experts say
The U.S. economy will continue to slow in the second half of 2022 and a recession is increasingly likely, according to the Old Dominion University‘s Dragas Center for Economy Analysis and Policy’s mid-year economic forecast released Friday. Increases in inflation are expected to slow as well but harden, leaving costs elevated, report Robert McNab and […]
Va. AG hiring staff to target unemployment fraud
Virginia’s attorney general on Thursday announced he has signed an agreement with the Virginia Employment Commission to hire more staff dedicated to investigating and prosecuting fraudulent unemployment claims, a problem that has cost the state more than $100 million since 2020, a report estimates. According to Attorney General Jason Miyares’ spokeswoman, Victoria LaCivita, his office [...]
VEC reduces backlog by 89%
The Virginia Employment Commission has decreased its backlog by nearly 89%, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. The VEC reduced the backlog of employment separation reports from 246,273 to 27,728 and unpaid pending claims from 24,887 to 15,846 claims. “Virginians deserve an unemployment insurance system that is responsive, efficient and customer focused,” Youngkin said in a […]
GOP lawmakers push to protect workers who decline COVID vaccines
RICHMOND, Va. – Lawmakers narrowly passed a bill this month that would allow people fired for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine to receive unemployment benefits if no other misconduct took place. The measure advanced from the House of Delegates on a 51-48 party line vote and was assigned to a Senate committee on Feb. 10. The […]
