How many jobs were added in Virginia last month?

Updated May. 22, 2026Refreshed monthly

Virginia gained 600 jobs in April 2026, ranking it 37th 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 5,400 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.

+600

month to month change in number of jobs (April 2026)

37th

rank among states in monthly job growth (April 2026)

April 2026's gain of 600 jobs was the second consecutive month of positive job growth in Virginia. Monthly job growth was down from the 6,800 new jobs in March 2026.

During the latest five year period (May 2021 to April 2026), Virginia gained jobs in 43 out of 60 months. April 2026 had the 20th-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 600 more jobs in April 2026 in Virginia than the previous month.

Monthly change in nonfarm employment, May 2021–April 2026, seasonally adjusted

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Which Virginia sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in April 2026?

The three supersectors with the highest job growth in April 2026 were professional, scientific, and technical services, retail trade, and transportation, warehousing, and utilities. Professional, scientific, and technical services added 2,000 jobs, more than the entire economy. Retail trade gained 1,900 jobs, while transportation, warehousing, and utilities added 1,800. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.

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The health care and social assistance sector gained 800 jobs during April 2026.

Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Virginia (April 2026)

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How does Virginia's job growth in 2026 compare to previous years?

In 2025, the state has lost an average of 1,400 jobs every month. That's lower than the previous year average monthly increase of 4,600, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-lowest in job growth since 2020.

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 9,000 on average every month in 2015.

In 2025, Virginia lost an average of 1,400 jobs every month.

Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted

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Job growth among nine metro areas primarily in Virginia during April 2026 ranged from a loss of 300 jobs in the Harrisonburg, VA area to a gain of 1,100 jobs in the Richmond, VA area metro area.

Monthly job growth, by metro area

Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Virginia

Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro area	Change in jobs
1.	Washington, DC area	+4,600
2.	Richmond, VA area	+1,100
3.	Virginia Beach, VA area	+300
4.	Roanoke, VA area	+300
5.	Lynchburg, VA area	+300
6.	Charlottesville, VA area	+100
7.	Blacksburg, VA area	+100
8.	Winchester, VA area	+100
9.	Staunton, VA area	+0
10.	Harrisonburg, VA area	-300

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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.

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics