Counties with the highest unemployment in Virginia

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Virginia, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 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.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

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

#50. Campbell County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 25,891 people (838 unemployed)

#49. Roanoke city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 50,310 people (1,613 unemployed)

#48. Charles City County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 3,770 people (125 unemployed)

#47. Giles County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,418 people (276 unemployed)

#46. Scott County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 9,278 people (307 unemployed)

#45. Westmoreland County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 9,489 people (310 unemployed)

#44. Dinwiddie County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 14,302 people (471 unemployed)

#43. Northampton County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,583 people (192 unemployed)

#42. Fredericksburg city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,711 people (505 unemployed)

#41. Prince George County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,134 people (555 unemployed)

#40. Newport News city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 91,103 people (3,097 unemployed)

#39. Norfolk city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 113,659 people (3,891 unemployed)

#38. Essex County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,662 people (196 unemployed)

#37. Mecklenburg County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,428 people (471 unemployed)

#36. Smyth County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 13,951 people (483 unemployed)

#35. Harrisonburg city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 25,774 people (901 unemployed)

#34. Richmond city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 126,338 people (4,423 unemployed)

#32. Appomattox County (tie)

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 7,181 people (257 unemployed)

#32. Patrick County (tie)

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,128 people (257 unemployed)

#31. Carroll County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,639 people (460 unemployed)

#30. Henry County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,029 people (873 unemployed)

#29. Northumberland County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,378 people (198 unemployed)

#28. Alleghany County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,314 people (234 unemployed)

#27. Russell County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 10,901 people (404 unemployed)

#26. Bristol city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,612 people (288 unemployed)

#25. Radford city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,432 people (358 unemployed)

#24. Halifax County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,564 people (595 unemployed)

#23. Norton city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,584 people (61 unemployed)

#22. Lexington city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,531 people (98 unemployed)

#21. Buckingham County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,717 people (259 unemployed)

#20. Lee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,182 people (321 unemployed)

#19. Prince Edward County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,477 people (408 unemployed)

#18. Portsmouth city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 45,506 people (1,770 unemployed)

#17. Hampton city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 66,488 people (2,568 unemployed)

#16. Franklin city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,450 people (143 unemployed)

#15. Williamsburg city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,010 people (285 unemployed)

#14. Lynchburg city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 35,955 people (1,471 unemployed)

#13. Covington city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,210 people (92 unemployed)

#12. Tazewell County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,232 people (637 unemployed)

#11. Hopewell city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,107 people (430 unemployed)

#10. Danville city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,151 people (829 unemployed)

#9. Wise County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,869 people (563 unemployed)

#8. Sussex County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,841 people (173 unemployed)

#7. Dickenson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,694 people (214 unemployed)

#6. Buchanan County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,288 people (296 unemployed)

#5. Martinsville city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,563 people (274 unemployed)

#4. Greensville County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,232 people (228 unemployed)

#3. Petersburg city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,185 people (706 unemployed)

#2. Brunswick County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,009 people (330 unemployed)

#1. Emporia city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 3.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,374 people (195 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.