Posted: Mar 3, 2024 / 12:20 PM EST
Updated: Mar 3, 2024 / 12:20 PM EST
(STACKER) — As of January 2024, the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.7% — unchanged from the previous month and up slightly from January 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But where in Central Virginia are the most people unemployed?
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Virginia using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The 50 counties with the highest unemployment, based on preliminary December 2023 numbers, were provided by Stacker. From those, 8News broke out the counties in Central Virginia.
#19. Chesterfield County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 202,160 people (5,506 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 47th
#18. Richmond County (tie)
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
- 1-month change: No change
- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,085 people (116 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 44th (tie)
#18. King and Queen County (tie)
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,167 people (116 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 44th (tie)
#17. Henrico County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 193,750 people (5,405 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 39th
#16. Charles City County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,750 people (110 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 38th
#15. Cumberland County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,028 people (148 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 37th
#14. Caroline County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,982 people (470 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 35th
#13. Orange County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 17,749 people (512 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 34th
#12. Lancaster County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,558 people (164 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 32nd
#11. Dinwiddie County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 14,288 people (430 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 31st
#10. Northumberland County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
- 1-month change: No change
- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,838 people (186 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 28th
#9. Mecklenburg County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,034 people (466 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 22nd
#8. Greensville County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
- 1-month change: No change
- 1-year change: Down 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,531 people (156 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 21st
#7. Prince George County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
- 1-month change: No change
- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,093 people (540 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 17th
#6. Prince Edward County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,307 people (394 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 10th
#5. Sussex County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,821 people (150 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 9th
#4. Northampton County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 5,583 people (215 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 8th
#3. Essex County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,788 people (226 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 7th
#2. Brunswick County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 5,992 people (255 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 2nd
#1. Buckingham County
- December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
- 1-month change: No change
- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,794 people (293 unemployed)
- Initial ranking: 1st
Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in December 2023, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County unemployment rates are released about a month behind the national numbers. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
