Roanoke, Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Roanoke rose 0.1 percentage points in October 2018 to 2.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Roanoke peaked in January 2010 at 8.1% and is now 5.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.8% in July 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Roanoke unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.4
Virginia	2.9%	0.0	-0.7
Roanoke	2.9%	+0.1	-0.8

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with October 2018 data as November metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Roanoke, Virginia, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Roanoke, Virginia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Roanoke peaked in February 2010 at 12,734. There are now 8,172 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,364 in September 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 198. Roanoke employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Roanoke, Virginia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Roanoke	4,562	+198	-1,309

Number of Unemployed Persons

Roanoke, Virginia Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Virginia Unemployment Rate	Roanoke Unemployment Rate	Roanoke Unemployed
November 2018	3.7%	—	—	—
October 2018	3.7%	2.9%	2.9%	4,562
September 2018	3.7%	2.9%	2.8%	4,364
August 2018	3.9%	3.0%	2.8%	4,436
July 2018	3.9%	3.1%	2.8%	4,447
June 2018	4.0%	3.2%	3.1%	4,903
May 2018	3.8%	3.2%	3.0%	4,766
April 2018	3.9%	3.3%	3.2%	5,071
March 2018	4.1%	3.4%	3.3%	5,130
February 2018	4.1%	3.5%	3.2%	4,963
January 2018	4.1%	3.6%	3.4%	5,374
December 2017	4.1%	3.6%	3.7%	5,706