Counties with the highest unemployment in Virginia

In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Virginia using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS. 

In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses. 

The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Virginia.

#25. Smyth County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,042 people (468 unemployed)

#24. Dinwiddie County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,282 people (475 unemployed)

#23. Bland County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,885 people (99 unemployed)

#22. Northumberland County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 5,437 people (185 unemployed)

#21. Mecklenburg County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,538 people (454 unemployed)

#20. Appomattox County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,236 people (254 unemployed)

#19. Patrick County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,226 people (256 unemployed)

#18. Wythe County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,714 people (518 unemployed)

#17. Prince George County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,064 people (557 unemployed)

#16. Henry County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 24,167 people (855 unemployed)

#15. Alleghany County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,424 people (232 unemployed)

#14. Russell County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,000 people (399 unemployed)

#13. Lee County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,203 people (305 unemployed)

#12. Prince Edward County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,508 people (400 unemployed)

#11. Halifax County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,790 people (602 unemployed)

#10. Carroll County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,874 people (506 unemployed)

#9. Giles County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,625 people (343 unemployed)

#8. Tazewell County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,369 people (633 unemployed)

#7. Pulaski County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,775 people (761 unemployed)

#6. Wise County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,882 people (561 unemployed)

#5. Buchanan County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,288 people (286 unemployed)

#4. Sussex County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,877 people (182 unemployed)

#3. Dickenson County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,737 people (221 unemployed)

#2. Greensville County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,229 people (212 unemployed)

#1. Brunswick County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,049 people (316 unemployed)

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.