How many jobs were lost in Richmond, VA area last month?
Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed annually
It lost 700 jobs in January 2026. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ state and local employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the Richmond, VA Metro Area has averaged about 1,200 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-700
month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
In the previous employment report on the Richmond, VA area, there was a net loss of 300 jobs in December 2025.
The Richmond, VA area job loss of 700 in January 2026 was larger than the 300 jobs lost in December 2025.
During the latest five-year period (February 2021 to January 2026), the Richmond, VA area gained jobs in 42 out of 60 months. October 2025 had the 11th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2021 (+12,000) while job growth was weakest in October 2025 (-7,500).
There were 700 fewer jobs in January 2026 in Richmond, VA area
Monthly change in nonfarm employment in the Richmond, VA area
How does the Richmond, VA area job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2026, the Richmond, VA area has lost an average of 50 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2025 average monthly increase of 342, and the lowest since 2020. The 2026 average ranks as fourth-worst in job growth since 2020.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 25,300 every month in 2009 to a gain of 23,800 every month in 2015.
In 2025, the Richmond, VA area gained an average of 342 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs in the Richmond, VA area, seasonally adjusted
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
