Virginia’s nonfarm payroll employment increased by 600 jobs in July, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey. This brings the total number of jobs added since July 2024 to 35,400 and marks an increase of 267,100 jobs since January 2022.
June’s job figures were revised upward by 2,800 positions, making it the fourth month in a row that Virginia has seen upward revisions in its employment estimates for 2025. In contrast, national data has shown downward revisions each month this year.
The state’s unemployment rate rose slightly in July by 0.1 percentage points to reach 3.6 percent. Despite this increase, Virginia’s rate remains below the national average of 4.2 percent.
On the last business day of June, there were approximately 246,000 job openings across Virginia—an increase of 8,000 from May and up by 14 percent compared to June last year. Nationwide job openings remained largely unchanged during this period. Additional information on these labor market trends can be found at https://virginiaworks.com/.
Governor Glenn Youngkin commented on the report: “Continued strong business investment drives opportunities for all Virginians. With 267,100 more people working today versus the start of our administration and 246,000 open jobs available, Virginia has jobs,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.“This month’s reports reflect modest payroll growth, continued positive revisions in recent months, and strong labor force demand, reinforcing the resilience of Virginia’s job market.”
Data from the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) preliminary release show that Virginia’s labor force declined by about 6,100 people in July to just over 4.55 million. The number of unemployed residents increased by more than 2,200 to roughly 162,500. The state’s labor force participation rate dropped slightly to 64.9 percent; this figure represents those employed or actively seeking work among civilians aged sixteen and older.
Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater stated: “Virginia’s job market has proven its resilience time and time again,” said Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater.“We are encouraged to see the increase in payroll employment and job openings, along with a slowdown in separations, indicating that employers are still adding jobs in key sectors. Our focus remains on supporting jobseekers with training, upskilling, and connections to in-demand opportunities.”
Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura added: “The increase in payroll jobs, along with consistent positive revisions, signals confidence in Virginia’s economy,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura.“We remain committed to creating the conditions that businesses need to thrive and expand, so that more Virginians enter – and remain – in the workforce.”
The LAUS survey is based on monthly household interviews conducted for the Bureau of Labor Statistics and offers detailed data about both employed and unemployed individuals within the labor force. Establishment survey data undergoes updates for seasonal adjustment factors as well as industry classification changes as part of annual benchmarking processes.
The household survey identifies whether a person is employed or unemployed but does not count self-employed individuals or those not receiving wages from an employer; CES only counts employees on payrolls.
For further details on these statistics or additional information about Virginia’s workforce trends visit https://virginiaworks.com/.
