Department of Numbers

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Blacksburg rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Blacksburg peaked in April 2020 at 12.2% and is now 9.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.6% in December 2021, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.5 percentage points. You can also compare Blacksburg unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Virginia 2.9% +0.2 -0.3
Blacksburg 3.1% +0.1 0.0
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Blacksburg, Virginia, National

Blacksburg, Virginia monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Blacksburg, Virginia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Blacksburg peaked in April 2020 at 10,710. There are now 7,678 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,367 in January 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 665. Blacksburg employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Blacksburg, Virginia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Blacksburg 3,032 +94 +56

Number of Unemployed Persons

Blacksburg, Virginia Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Virginia
Unemployment Rate
Blacksburg
Unemployment Rate
Blacksburg
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 2.9% 3.1% 3,032
October
2023
3.8% 2.7% 3.0% 2,938
September
2023
3.8% 2.5% 2.9% 2,816
August
2023
3.8% 2.5% 2.8% 2,685
July
2023
3.5% 2.5% 2.7% 2,587
June
2023
3.6% 2.7% 2.7% 2,630
May
2023
3.7% 2.9% 2.7% 2,633
April
2023
3.4% 3.1% 2.7% 2,635
March
2023
3.5% 3.2% 2.8% 2,700
February
2023
3.6% 3.2% 2.9% 2,813
January
2023
3.4% 3.2% 3.1% 2,929

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.