Virginia unemployment fell in July

Virginia’s unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point in July to 4.8 percent.

The Virginia Employment Commission released the seasonally adjusted jobless figure on Friday, noting that rate was three-tenths of a percentage point higher in July 2014. The national unemployment rate in July was 5.3 percent.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers take into account the seasonal fluctuations in the labor market.

The VEC reported that Virginia’s labor force, household employment and number of unemployed declined in July for the second consecutive month. The labor force had expanded during the first five months of the year.

Virginia’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment in July fell by 2,500 jobs, less than 0.1 percent,  to 3.8 million. The slight decrease flowed three consecutive months of increases totaling 34,000 jobs.

June’s initially reported jobs gain of 13,400 jobs was revised downward to 8,900 jobs in Friday’s report.

Employment increased in six major industry divisions in July, decreased in four and remained unchanged in construction at 187,100 jobs.

The largest jobs increase occurred in the total government category, up 2,800 jobs to 709,700.

The biggest decrease took place in leisure and hospitality, down 4,100 jobs to 373,100.