Va. unemployment rate fell less than 1% between October and November

Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by less than 1% between October and November to 4.9%, according to employment statistics released Friday by the Virginia Employment Commission — but unemployment still remains 2.2% higher than the same time last year.

The labor force grew by 0.4% to 4.28 million between October and November, while the number of employed Virginians increased by more than 24,000 to 4.05 million. Non-agriculture jobs rose by 28,787 and the private sector gained 13,800 jobs. The public sector payroll lost 5,700 jobs, however. 

The largest monthly job gains during November were in professional and business services (adding 6,800 jobs) and education and health services (adding 3,800 jobs). Other sectors that saw increases included construction (adding 3,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (adding 2,000 jobs) and trade and transportation (adding 900 jobs), among other industries. Government employment, manufacturing, and information services were the only major industry sectors that reported jobs lost. 

Despite some job recovery, 10 out of the 11 major industry divisions in Virginia reported declines compared to last year. Leisure and hospitality was down by 66,800 jobs, compared to November 2019, while education and health sciences were down by 32,700 jobs. Government, professional and business services, manufacturing, trade and transportation, finance and mining also reported major losses. Construction is the only industry that was up by 12,200 jobs compared to the same period in 2019.

Regionally, the largest job increases during November happened in Richmond, which added 6,000 jobs. The Charlottesville, Blacksburg/Christiansburg/Radford, Roanoke, Eastern Virginia, Northern Virginia, Harrisonburg, Staunton/Waynesboro regions also reported job gains, while job losses were reported in the Winchester area.

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