What is the unemployment rate in right now?

Refreshed monthly
Unemployment in Virginia was at 3.6% in August 2026. That's a 0.1 percentage point decrease from the month before. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but not currently employed. It's a common way to measure the health of the job market and economy.
In August 2026,

3.6%

of the labor force was unemployed in Virginia
August 2026 had a

-0.1

percentage point change from the previous month
The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the unemployment rate through a monthly survey to identify the civilian labor force, meaning people who are employed or actively seeking work. It counts part-time workers as employed. It excludes people who aren’t actively looking for work, such as retirees or discouraged workers.

In August 2026, the unemployment rate in Virginia was lower than the US overall.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, January 2007 to August 2026

Unemployment rates differ within states due to various factors. Counties with many job opportunities and different industries often have lower unemployment rates. In rural areas or in places where industries are shrinking, the rate can be higher. Seasonal work in industries like tourism or farming can lead to unemployment rising or falling. Population changes and local policies also play a role in how many people are employed.

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What counties in Virginia have the highest and lowest unemployment?

In Virginia, Emporia Independent City, VA had the highest unemployment rate at 7.6%. Bath County, VA had the lowest at 2.5%. Fairfax County, VA, the county with the largest labor force in the state, had an unemployment rate of 3.3%. The latest county-level data is from August 2026.

Unemployment rates in Virginia counties ranged from 2.5% to 7.6% in August 2026.

Unemployment rate, by county, not seasonally adjusted

Unemployment rate, by county in Virginia (August 2026)

Unemployment rate, by county in Virginia (August 2026)
1.

Emporia Independent City, VA

7.6%
2.

Buchanan County, VA

7%
3.

Lexington Independent City, VA

6.3%
4.

Danville Independent City, VA

5.9%
5.

Greensville County, VA

5.9%
6.

Petersburg Independent City, VA

5.7%
7.

Martinsville County, VA

5.5%
8.

Prince Edward County, VA

5.5%
9.

Williamsburg Independent City, VA

5.5%
10.

Franklin Independent City, VA

5.4%

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

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.