How many jobs were lost in Virginia last month?
Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed annually
Virginia gained 2,900 jobs in January 2026, ranking it 24th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state 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 state has averaged about 5,700 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+2.9K
month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
24th
rank among states in monthly job growth (January 2026)
Virginia’s job gain of 2,900 January 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was up from the 9,900 loss in December 2025.
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Virginia gained jobs in 45 out of 60 months. January 2026 had the 24th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2021 (+37,400) while job growth was weakest in October 2025 (-23,200).
There were 2,900 more jobs in January 2026 in Virginia than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, February 2021–January 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Virginia sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in January 2026?
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Virginia gained jobs in 45 out of 60 months. January 2026 had the 24th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2021 (+37,400) while job growth was weakest in October 2025 (-23,200).
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in January 2026 were private educational services, retail trade, and accommodation and food services. Private educational services added 5,400 jobs, more than the entire economy. Retail trade gained 2,600 jobs, while accommodation and food services added 1,700. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The health care and social assistance sector gained 1,600 jobs during January 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Virginia (January 2026)
How does Virginia's job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2025, the state has lost an average of 975 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 6,200, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-lowest in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 8,900 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 8,900 on average every month in 2015.
In 2025, Virginia lost an average of 975 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among nine metro areas at least partially in Virginia during January 2026 ranged from a loss of 700 jobs in the Richmond, VA area to a gain of 1,700 jobs in the Virginia Beach, VA area metro area.
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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.
