Virginia’s jobless rate remains unchanged

Virginia’s unemployment rate in December was 3.7 percent, unchanged from November.

The December 2017 rate represented a decline of four-tenths of percentage point from December 2016, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. The national rate for December 2017 was 4.1 percent.

The numbers are seasonally adjusted, meaning that they take into account seasonal fluctuations in the labor force.

The lowest jobless rate in Virginia last year, 3.6 percent, occurred in October. That rate was the lowest seen in Virginia since March 2008.

Virginia’s nonfarm employment fell by 2,100 jobs in December to 3,966,500, the third consecutive monthly decline.

In December, employment decreased in three industry sectors, increased in seven others and was unchanged in mining at 7,800 jobs.

The largest job loss during the month occurred in professional and business services, down 4,600 jobs to a total of 725,300.

The biggest employment gain occurred in trade and transportation, up 2,800 jobs to 659,200.

From December 2016 to December 2017, Virginia had a net gain of 30,200 jobs, with the biggest increases in Northern Virginia (20,900 jobs) and the Richmond area (11,100).