July jobless rate hits 4.2% in Va., a small decrease
In July, the state’s unemployment rate saw a small decline to 4.2%, 0.1 points below June’s rate, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. In July 2020, the jobless rate was at 7.9%, 3.7 points higher than last month. Virginia continued to see an expansion of the labor force, with 7,818 people starting jobs last month, totaling […]
Va. is ready to deploy COVID vaccine booster doses
As COVID cases are on the rise again, driven by the delta variant of the coronavirus, the Virginia Department of Health has begun administering third COVID-19 vaccine doses to immunocompromised people and is ready to expand third-dose booster vaccinations to more Virginia residents on Sept. 20, the target date set by the federal[...]
Va. new jobless claims rose 62% last week
Virginia’s initial unemployment claims rose by 62% last week since the previous week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending Aug. 14, the state recorded 16,593 new jobless claims, up 6,367 from the previous week. Continued claims totaled 35,081, up 3,342 claims from the previous we[...]
Alexandria’s SPA lands $185M contract for Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Alexandria-based Systems Planning and Analysis Inc. (SPA) has signed a contract with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the company announced Tuesday. The $185 million contract will be for research, development, test and evaluation subject matter expertise advisory and assistance support, according to a news release from SPA. The work will be performed at Fort Belvoir, […]
Va. new jobless claims top 10K, a dramatic rise
Virginia’s initial unemployment claims rose by 67% this week, while continued claims continued to decrease, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. The state saw the nation’s second largest increase in initial claims. For the filing week ending Aug. 7, the state recorded 10,226 new jobless claims, up 4,[...]
VDH officials expect more workplaces to mandate vaccines
More workplaces will likely require employees to be vaccinated once the Food and Drug Administration provides full licensure of the Pfizer vaccine, expected in September, Dr. Danny Avula, the state’s vaccine coordinator, said Tuesday at a Virginia Department of Health media briefing. “COVID is not going to go away after [...]
Norfolk software company to expand, create 37 jobs
A Norfolk-based software company will expand its operation and create 37 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. SVT Robotics, a company that accelerates the deployment of industrial robotics, will invest $101,400 to expand in the Ghent area of Norfolk. The company will build a lab to house robotic equipment used to demonst[...]
Va. Beach Naval Air Station to allow private development
About 400 acres of underutilized land at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach could be leased for private development, according to a new agreement between the Navy and the city of Virginia Beach. The agreement was signed Thursday. The concept, known as Future Base Design, would mean that the land would be leased to [&hell[...]
Va. jobless claims continued to decrease last week
Virginia’s initial and continued unemployment claims continued to slightly decrease last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending July 31, the state recorded 6,029 new jobless claims, down 149 from the previous week, while continued claims totaled 31,960, down 1,643 from the pr[...]
Northam will require state employees to get vaccinated
State employees will be required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 1 or be tested weekly, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday, as the delta variant has led to rising cases. “Today, I’m taking an important step to protect employees,” Northam said at a news conference, adding that the measur[...]
Richmond mandates vaccinations for city employees
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announced Wednesday that all city employees will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, becoming the first Virginia locality to mandate vaccination. Fairfax County has taken steps in recent weeks toward a vaccination mandate for its 12,000 employees, but the county executive must make the fina[...]
Virginians bet $235M on sports in June
Virginians bet $234.9 million on sports in June but nearly broke even, making $212.9 million during the fifth full month for legal sports wagers, according to data released Friday by the Virginia Lottery. Virginia sports betting wagers now total more than $1.3 billion since the state legalized sports betting in mid-January. In M[...]