Roanoke, Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Roanoke rose 0.1 percentage points in February 2019 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Roanoke peaked in January 2010 at 8.1% and is now 5.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.7% in December 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	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.8%	-0.2	-0.3
Virginia	2.9%	+0.1	-0.3
Roanoke	2.8%	+0.1	-0.4

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: 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 8,235 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,311 in January 2019, the number of unemployed has now grown by 188. Roanoke employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Roanoke, Virginia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Roanoke	4,499	+188	-464

Number of Unemployed Persons

Roanoke, Virginia Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Virginia Unemployment Rate	Roanoke Unemployment Rate	Roanoke Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	2.9%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	2.9%	2.8%	4,499
January 2019	4.0%	2.8%	2.7%	4,311
December 2018	3.9%	2.8%	2.7%	4,341
November 2018	3.7%	2.8%	2.9%	4,569
October 2018	3.8%	2.8%	2.9%	4,557
September 2018	3.7%	2.8%	2.8%	4,364
August 2018	3.8%	2.8%	2.8%	4,436
July 2018	3.9%	2.9%	2.8%	4,447
June 2018	4.0%	3.0%	3.1%	4,903
May 2018	3.8%	3.0%	3.0%	4,766
April 2018	3.9%	3.1%	3.2%	5,071