Department of Numbers

Richmond, Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Richmond fell 0.1 percentage points in December 2011 to 6.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.7 percentage points higher than the Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Richmond peaked in November 2009 at 8.2% and is now 1.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.8% in April 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Richmond unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
National 8.5% -0.2 -0.9
Virginia 6.2% 0.0 -0.4
Richmond 6.9% -0.1 -0.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Richmond, Virginia, National

Richmond, Virginia monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Richmond, Virginia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Richmond peaked in December 2009 at 53,482. There are now 7,861 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 43,827 in May 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,794. Richmond employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Richmond, Virginia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
Richmond 45,621 -425 -3,511

Number of Unemployed Persons

Richmond, Virginia Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Virginia
Unemployment Rate
Richmond
Unemployment Rate
Richmond
Unemployed
January
2012
8.3%
December
2011
8.5% 6.2% 6.9% 45,621
November
2011
8.7% 6.2% 7.0% 46,046
October
2011
8.9% 6.4% 7.2% 47,281
September
2011
9.0% 6.5% 7.2% 46,997
August
2011
9.1% 6.3% 7.0% 45,660
July
2011
9.1% 6.1% 6.9% 44,382
June
2011
9.1% 6.0% 6.8% 44,009
May
2011
9.0% 6.0% 6.8% 43,827
April
2011
9.0% 6.1% 6.8% 44,456
March
2011
8.9% 6.2% 7.0% 45,339
February
2011
9.0% 6.4% 7.2% 46,598
January
2011
9.1% 6.5% 7.4% 48,199

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.