Fairfax County’s jobless rate showed a decline from January to February, mirroring a trend across most of Northern Virginia.
With 636,138 holding jobs in the civilian workforce and 15,527 looking for them, Fairfax’s unemployment rate of 2.4 percent in February was down from 2.7 percent in January and off from the 2.5-percent rate reported in February 2022.
Figures were reported April 5 by the Virginia Employment Commission.
The month-over-month decline was similar to what was recorded in much of the local region, as February jobless rates dropped from 2.4 percent to 2 percent in Arlington; from 2.5 percent to 2.2 percent in Falls Church; from 2.7 percent to 2.3 percent in Alexandria; from 2.7 percent to 2.4 percent in Loudoun County; and from 3 percent to 2.7 percent in Prince William County.
For Northern Virginia as a whole, the jobless rate of 2.5 percent in February was down from 2.8 percent a year before and unchanged from February 2022. Approximately 1.68 million were employed in the civilian workforce and 42,600 were looking for jobs.
A total of 49 of Virginia’s 133 cities and counties had jobless rates below 3 percent for the month, with five localities having rates of 5 percent or higher.
Arlington and Falls Church held down the top two positions for lowest jobless rate, followed by a tie between Alexandria and Madison counties. The highest rates were reported in Northumberland County (6.4%), Lancaster County (5.8%) and the city of Petersburg (5.1%).
Metro Area’s Year-Over-Year Jobless Rate Declines: The Washington region’s unemployment rate posted a decline from a year before in February, joining a majority of metropolitan areas that saw lower year-over-year joblessness.
With 3,469,052 residents counted in the region’s civilian workforce and 100,499 looking for jobs, the metro area’s unemployment rate of 2.9 percent was down from 3 percent in January and from 3.6 percent a year before.
Figures were reported April 5 by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The D.C. region was among 228 of the nation’s 389 metropolitan areas that saw lower year-over-year joblessness. Rates were up in 131 metro areas, unchanged in 30.
The national, non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 3.9 percent in February was down from 4.1 percent a year before. Nationally, 216 metro areas had unemployment rates below the national average, 163 above it and 10 equal to it.
Among all metro areas, Ames, Iowa, and Madison, Wisc., had the lowest jobless rates, 1.9 percent each. The highest rate was reported in El Centro, Calif. (15.6%).
Among the 51 metro areas with populations above a million, the lowest jobless rates were recorded in Birmingham and Miami (2.2% each) and the highest in Las Vegas (6%).
Virginia’s jobless rate for February stood at 2.9 percent, up from 2.7 percent a year before but down from 3.3 percent a month ago. Across the commonwealth, February’s unemployment rates ranged from 2.6 percent in Staunton-Waynesboro to 3.4 percent in Lynchburg.
In terms of total non-farm employment, year-over-year totals were up in 96 metro areas nationally and essentially unchanged in 293.
In percentage terms, the largest year-over-year increase in jobs was reported in Midland, Texas, at 10.1 percent. In raw numbers, the New York City metro area saw an increase in 287,600 jobs compared to a year before, with Dallas-Fort Worth (up 211,600) surpassing Los Angeles (146,900) to take the second position.
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Among the 51 metro areas with populations above a million, the lowest jobless rates were recorded in Birmingham and Miami (2.2% each), the highest in Las Vegas (6%).
Virginia’s jobless rate for February stood at 2.9 percent, up from 2.7 a year before but down from 3.3 percent a month ago. Across the commonwealth, February’s jobless rates ranged from 2.6 percent in Staunton-Waynesboro to 3.4 percent in Lynchburg.
In terms of total non-farm employment, year-over-year totals were up in 96 metro areas nationally and essentially unchanged in 293.
In percentage terms, the largest year-over-year increase in jobs was reported in Midland, Texas, at 10.1 percent. In total numbers, the New York City metro area saw an increase of 287,600 jobs compared to a year before, with Dallas-Fort Worth (up 211,600) surpassing Los Angeles (146,900) to take the second spot.
