Youngkin: Jobs data highlights importance of ‘bold policy measures’

RICHMOND, VA – Nearly 67% of Virginia’s population age 16 and up is employed or actively looking for work, according to government data.

“Coming into office, Virginia was bottom third in the nation in job growth, and for our first 22 months we outpaced national job growth trends, rising to third in the nation in job growth, and it wasn’t by accident,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin in a statement, talking about the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ household survey for December. “I hope that my General Assembly colleagues understand the tone that is set and the policies being pursued directly impact job growth and opportunity for Virginians.”

The data, Youngkin said, highlights the need “to advance bold policy measures” such as cutting taxes, reducing the cost of living and the cost of doing business, making the state’s business-friendly environment stronger and improving the path for students from the classroom to the workforce.

“To be clear, if we’re not moving forward, we’re falling behind,” Youngkin said.

The proportion of people 16 and up employed or actively looking for work stayed unchanged at 66.9% in December, and Virginia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for the month rose slightly to 3%, 0.7% below the national rate.

Virginia’s labor force declined by more than 1,700 people to just over 4.6 million people, and the number of Virginians employed dropped by nearly 8,400 people to about 4.5 million. The number of unemployed Virginians rose by 6,632 people to 138,771 people.

“This month’s job numbers call us to double down on policies that have resulted in employing over 222,000 more Virginians since the turn of the Administration,” said Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater. “249,000 job openings remain today in the Commonwealth, and we are committed to empowering Virginians with the tools they need to seek these opportunities with employers.”

Secretary of Commerce Caren Merrick said Virginia can boast the highest labor force participation rate, and unemployment levels well below the national average.

“We must continue the progress over the last two years to advance the governor’s pro-growth, pro-opportunity agenda,” Merrick said.

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