unemployment | FFXnow

Published August 29, 2025 at 9:15AM

Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaking at the Capital One headquarters in Tysons on Feb. 24, 2025 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

While Virginia’s unemployment rate has been ticking up for months, the state’s Republican leadership contends the jobless rate is just one piece of a larger, more complex economic puzzle.

“Virginia has jobs,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in an Aug. 19 statement accompanying the latest batch of state employment figures. “This month’s reports reflect modest payroll growth, continued positive revisions in recent months, and strong labor force demand, reinforcing the resilience of Virginia’s job market.”

Countywide

Number of Fairfax residents looking for work is up by a third from 2024

By Scott McCaffrey

Published August 5, 2025 at 1:45PM

Employment and jobs picture (via Creative Campalgn/Unsplash)

The number of Fairfax County residents seeking employment is up by a third year-over-year in new state data, as Northern Virginia continues to grapple with the Trump administration’s slashing of federal government jobs.

A total of 23,561 county residents were reported as looking for work in June’s unemployment figures, provided to FFXnow by state officials on Monday (Aug. 4).

Countywide

Fairfax County leaders sound alarm on ‘staggering’ rise in unemployment

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 16, 2025 at 11:45AM | Updated July 16, 2025 at 6:07PM

Federal employment in the D.C. region from 1990 to May 1, 2025 (via Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments)

Fairfax County’s top elected officials at the state and local level united this morning (Wednesday) to urge Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration to provide more support for fired federal workers.

In a joint statement, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Jeff McKay and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34), who represents southeastern Fairfax, pinned the “staggering rise in unemployment” across the county on “the reckless policies of Donald Trump” and the “complicity” of Virginia’s Republican leaders.

Countywide

Number of unemployed Fairfax residents reaches a level not seen since mid-2021

By Scott McCaffrey

Published July 14, 2025 at 1:45PM

Virginia unemployment rate from June 2023 through May 2025 (via Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement)

Federal workforce cuts implemented by the Trump administration and, as of July 8, enabled by the U.S. Supreme Court have helped drive the number of unemployed Fairfax County residents to heights not seen in nearly four years.

A total of 21,705 county residents were counted as unemployed in May, according to new data reported by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. That’s up 35% from a year before.

Countywide

Even members of Congress have no clear idea of unemployment related to Trump cuts

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 17, 2025 at 8:30AM

Sen. Mark Warner speaks at a 2024 Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce event in Tysons on March 11, 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

How many Northern Virginia residents have lost their jobs as part of federal cutbacks and their ripple effects on the economy? Nobody seems to know for sure — including members of the U.S. Senate.

“We’re still trying to get the right numbers,” Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) told the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) board of directors at a meeting last Wednesday (June 11).

Countywide

New initiative hopes to help N. Va. workers ‘pivot’ amid federal government upheaval

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 3, 2025 at 2:45PM

Man in suit and tie (photo via Hunters Race on Unsplash)

Local economic development organizations have joined forces to launch a comprehensive initiative aimed at assisting federal employees, contractors and other professionals facing career disruptions.

“The Pivot” is an initiative of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance, which includes the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.

Countywide

Federal government cuts fuel rise in joblessness across Fairfax and D.C. region

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 1, 2025 at 11:20AM

Participants in a rally at Great Falls Park to support National Park Service workers amid federal government cuts hold up signs (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The ranks of unemployed Fairfax County residents ticked up nearly 8% month-over-month and 37% year-over-year in March, according to new state data, as Northern Virginia’s economy takes a hit from the federal government’s downsizing and collateral economic impacts.

A total of 20,836 Fairfax residents were counted as unemployed for March, according to figures reported this week by the Virginia Employment Commission. That compares to 19,315 in February and 15,171 in March 2024.

News

Fairfax sees jump in number of unemployed residents with latest state data

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 14, 2025 at 2:30PM

Virginia unemployment rate from February 2023 through February 2025 (via Virginia Employment Commission)

The number of Fairfax County residents counted as unemployed and looking for work in February spiked 17% from the same month in 2024 in new data.

The city and county-level unemployment figures released by the Virginia Employment Commission last Thursday (April 10) kickstarted what could be a series of punishing monthly jobless reports in coming months, as the D.C. region begins to adjust to the ripple effects of the Trump administration gutting the federal government and tariff-related uncertainty.

Countywide

Fairfax supervisors ask state to increase unemployment benefits as federal layoffs intensify

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 19, 2025 at 1:15PM

Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaking at the Capital One headquarters in Tysons on Feb. 24, 2025 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Democrats on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday (Tuesday) to send a letter to state leaders, asking for expanded unemployment coverage for federal workers having lost their jobs due to downsizing.

The maximum weekly Virginia unemployment-compensation rate of $378 is “one of the lowest in the country,” according to Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw.

Countywide

Fairfax County leaders get initial, hazy look at scope of federal government cuts

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 12, 2025 at 2:30PM

Fairfax County Economic Development Authority president and CEO Victor Hoskins (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Recent actions by the Trump administration are heightening the urgency of the Fairfax County and the D.C. area’s longtime goal of reducing their reliance on federal government employment and spending.

With mass worker layoffs, contract cancellations and potential real estate sales promising significant economic upheaval, local and regional leaders may have no choice but to “think and act differently,” according to Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Julie Coons.