Department of Numbers

Roanoke, Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Roanoke rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Roanoke peaked in April 2020 at 11.1% and is now 8.3 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 Roanoke unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Virginia 2.5% 0.0 -0.5
Roanoke 2.8% +0.1 -0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Roanoke, Virginia, National

Roanoke, Virginia monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Roanoke, Virginia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Roanoke peaked in April 2020 at 17,123. There are now 12,594 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,072 in March 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 457. Roanoke employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Roanoke, Virginia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Roanoke 4,529 +126 -335

Number of Unemployed Persons

Roanoke, Virginia Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Virginia
Unemployment Rate
Roanoke
Unemployment Rate
Roanoke
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 2.7%
September
2023
3.8% 2.5% 2.8% 4,529
August
2023
3.8% 2.5% 2.7% 4,403
July
2023
3.5% 2.5% 2.7% 4,378
June
2023
3.6% 2.7% 2.7% 4,488
May
2023
3.7% 2.9% 2.8% 4,570
April
2023
3.4% 3.1% 2.9% 4,656
March
2023
3.5% 3.2% 2.9% 4,733
February
2023
3.6% 3.2% 3.0% 4,828
January
2023
3.4% 3.2% 3.1% 4,900
December
2022
3.5% 3.1% 3.1% 4,874
November
2022
3.6% 3.2% 3.1% 4,895

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.