Department of Numbers

Roanoke, Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Roanoke fell 0.1 percentage points in March 2023 to 2.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points lower than the Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Roanoke peaked in April 2020 at 11.1% and is now 8.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.6% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Roanoke unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.5% -0.1 -0.1
Virginia 3.2% 0.0 +0.4
Roanoke 2.9% -0.1 +0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2023 data as April 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 12,395 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 656. Roanoke employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Roanoke, Virginia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Roanoke 4,728 -100 +656

Number of Unemployed Persons

Roanoke, Virginia Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Virginia
Unemployment Rate
Roanoke
Unemployment Rate
Roanoke
Unemployed
April
2023
3.4%
March
2023
3.5% 3.2% 2.9% 4,728
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
October
2022
3.7% 3.1% 3.1% 4,913
September
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.1% 4,864
August
2022
3.7% 2.8% 3.0% 4,770
July
2022
3.5% 2.6% 2.9% 4,636
June
2022
3.6% 2.5% 2.8% 4,469
May
2022
3.6% 2.5% 2.7% 4,298

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.