Department of Numbers

Richmond, Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Richmond fell 0.0 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Richmond peaked in April 2020 at 11.7% and is now 8.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.0% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Richmond unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Virginia 3.2% +0.1 +0.3
Richmond 3.2% 0.0 -0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February 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 April 2020 at 80,609. There are now 58,988 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 20,370 in July 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,251. Richmond employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Richmond, Virginia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Richmond 21,621 +258 -1,832

Number of Unemployed Persons

Richmond, Virginia Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Virginia
Unemployment Rate
Richmond
Unemployment Rate
Richmond
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.2% 3.2% 21,621
December
2022
3.5% 3.1% 3.2% 21,363
November
2022
3.6% 3.2% 3.2% 21,274
October
2022
3.7% 3.1% 3.1% 20,728
September
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.1% 20,504
August
2022
3.7% 2.8% 3.1% 20,693
July
2022
3.5% 2.6% 3.0% 20,370
June
2022
3.6% 2.5% 3.1% 20,580
May
2022
3.6% 2.5% 3.1% 20,824
April
2022
3.6% 2.6% 3.1% 20,835
March
2022
3.6% 2.8% 3.2% 21,316

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.