Virginia unemployment falls to 4.2 percent

Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped one-tenth of a percentage point in October to 4.2 percent, the commonwealth’s fourth-consecutive monthly decline.

October’s jobless rate is the lowest in Virginia since August 2008 when it also was 4.2 percent.

In October 2014, the rate was 4.9 percent. The national unemployment rate for October 2015 was 5 percent.

All of the figures are seasonally adjusted, meaning they take into account seasonal fluctuations in the labor force.

Virginia’s October rate was the lowest among the Southeast states and the third-lowest among the states east of the Mississippi.   

The commonwealth’s total nonfarm employment rose by 11,900 jobs in October to 3,827,400.

The October job gain was the second-consecutive monthly job gain. A previously reported loss of 200 jobs in September was revised to a gain of 1,100 jobs.

Private sector employment grew by 12,600 jobs, while the public sector fell by 700 jobs.

Employment rose in three industry sectors in October, declined in seven and remained unchanged in one — mining, at 8,800 jobs.

The biggest increase was seen in professional and business services, up 8,800 to 690,900 jobs. The biggest loss occurred in private education and health services, down 1,400 jobs to 505,300.