Department of Numbers

Harrisonburg, Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Harrisonburg fell 0.1 percentage points in May 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Harrisonburg peaked in April 2020 at 11.9% and is now 9.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.6% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Harrisonburg unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Virginia 2.9% -0.2 +0.4
Harrisonburg 2.8% -0.1 +0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Harrisonburg, Virginia, National

Harrisonburg, Virginia monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Harrisonburg, Virginia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Harrisonburg peaked in April 2020 at 7,371. There are now 5,422 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,752 in March 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 197. Harrisonburg employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Harrisonburg, Virginia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Harrisonburg 1,949 -49 +123

Number of Unemployed Persons

Harrisonburg, Virginia Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Virginia
Unemployment Rate
Harrisonburg
Unemployment Rate
Harrisonburg
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 2.9% 2.8% 1,949
April
2023
3.4% 3.1% 2.9% 1,998
March
2023
3.5% 3.2% 2.9% 2,036
February
2023
3.6% 3.2% 3.0% 2,085
January
2023
3.4% 3.2% 3.1% 2,129
December
2022
3.5% 3.1% 3.1% 2,134
November
2022
3.6% 3.2% 3.1% 2,149
October
2022
3.7% 3.1% 3.2% 2,164
September
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.1% 2,141
August
2022
3.7% 2.8% 3.1% 2,085
July
2022
3.5% 2.6% 2.9% 2,003

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.