Richmond, Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Richmond rose 0.1 percentage points in February 2019 to 3.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Richmond peaked in January 2010 at 8.4% and is now 5.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.0% in July 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Richmond unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.8%	-0.2	-0.3
Virginia	2.9%	+0.1	-0.3
Richmond	3.1%	+0.1	-0.2

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2019 data as March metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Richmond, Virginia, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Richmond, Virginia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Richmond peaked in February 2010 at 52,343. There are now 31,062 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 20,146 in September 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,135. Richmond employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Richmond, Virginia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Richmond	21,281	+579	-1,368

Number of Unemployed Persons

Richmond, Virginia Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Virginia Unemployment Rate	Richmond Unemployment Rate	Richmond Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	2.9%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	2.9%	3.1%	21,281
January 2019	4.0%	2.8%	3.0%	20,702
December 2018	3.9%	2.8%	3.0%	20,441
November 2018	3.7%	2.8%	3.1%	20,960
October 2018	3.8%	2.8%	3.1%	21,005
September 2018	3.7%	2.8%	3.0%	20,146
August 2018	3.8%	2.8%	3.0%	20,700
July 2018	3.9%	2.9%	3.0%	20,784
June 2018	4.0%	3.0%	3.2%	21,811
May 2018	3.8%	3.0%	3.1%	21,321
April 2018	3.9%	3.1%	3.3%	22,676