Business Employment Dynamics in Virginia — Fourth Quarter 2024

From September 2024 to December 2024, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments in Virginia were 193,916, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments were 185,156, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that the difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment gain of 8,760 jobs in the private sector during the fourth quarter of 2024. (See table 1.) During the previous quarter, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 6,628. (See chart 1.)

A line chart of private-sector gross job gains and losses in Virginia, from December 2019 to December 2024, seasonallyadjusted. Accessible version is available in View Chart Data link below the chart.

View Chart Data

Chart 1. Private-sector gross job gains and losses in Virginia, December 2019–December 2024, seasonally adjusted
Period	Gross job gains	Gross job losses
Dec 2019	210,776	178,457
Mar 2020	181,869	199,620
Jun 2020	142,920	554,335
Sep 2020	304,263	157,986
Dec 2020	213,698	162,464
Mar 2021	189,905	169,495
Jun 2021	197,276	187,917
Sep 2021	214,517	189,328
Dec 2021	226,683	168,958
Mar 2022	211,849	186,641
Jun 2022	209,573	215,574
Sep 2022	242,881	195,537
Dec 2022	205,642	190,209
Mar 2023	206,511	172,366
Jun 2023	200,818	192,946
Sep 2023	195,386	199,133
Dec 2023	199,237	183,131
Mar 2024	191,176	174,641
Jun 2024	190,520	189,462
Sep 2024	192,774	186,146
Dec 2024	193,916	185,156

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all private businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private-sector establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See the Business Employment Dynamics Technical Note.)

Gross job gains

In the fourth quarter of 2024, gross job gains represented 5.8 percent of private-sector employment in Virginia; matching the national gross job percent gain. (See chart 2.) Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment due to expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. In Virginia, gross job gains at expanding establishments totaled 150,162 in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of 482 jobs compared to the previous quarter. Opening establishments accounted for 43,754 jobs gained in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 1,624 jobs from the previous quarter.

View Chart Data

Chart 2. Private-sector gross job gains as a percent of employment, United States and Virginia, December 2019–December 2024, seasonally adjusted
Period	United States	Virginia
Dec 2019	6.2	6.5
Mar 2020	5.5	5.6
Jun 2020	4.8	4.6
Sep 2020	9.5	10.2
Dec 2020	7.4	7.0
Mar 2021	6.9	6.1
Jun 2021	6.8	6.4
Sep 2021	7.3	6.9
Dec 2021	7.7	7.2
Mar 2022	6.7	6.5
Jun 2022	6.5	6.5
Sep 2022	6.9	7.5
Dec 2022	6.3	6.2
Mar 2023	6.3	6.2
Jun 2023	6.2	6.1
Sep 2023	5.9	5.9
Dec 2023	6.0	5.9
Mar 2024	5.7	5.7
Jun 2024	5.8	5.7
Sep 2024	5.8	5.8
Dec 2024	5.8	5.8

Gross job losses

In the fourth quarter of 2024, gross job losses represented 5.5 percent of private-sector employment in Virginia; nationally, gross job losses accounted for 5.7 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 3.) Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. In Virginia, contracting establishments lost 141,576 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of 10,722 jobs from the prior quarter. Closing establishments lost 43,580 jobs, an increase of 9,732 jobs from the previous quarter.

View Chart Data

Chart 3. Private-sector gross job losses as a percent of employment, United States and Virginia, December 2019–December 2024, seasonally adjusted
Period	United States	Virginia
Dec 2019	5.5	5.6
Mar 2020	6.3	6.1
Jun 2020	16.8	18.0
Sep 2020	5.9	5.3
Dec 2020	5.7	5.3
Mar 2021	5.5	5.4
Jun 2021	5.9	6.1
Sep 2021	6.1	6.0
Dec 2021	5.4	5.3
Mar 2022	5.5	5.8
Jun 2022	6.2	6.7
Sep 2022	5.9	6.1
Dec 2022	5.9	5.8
Mar 2023	5.5	5.2
Jun 2023	5.9	5.9
Sep 2023	6.0	6.0
Dec 2023	5.7	5.5
Mar 2024	5.4	5.2
Jun 2024	5.9	5.6
Sep 2024	5.8	5.5
Dec 2024	5.7	5.5

Industries

Gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 4 of the 11 published industry sectors in Virginia in the fourth quarter of 2024. Leisure and hospitality had the largest over-the-quarter net job increase, with a gain of 11,413 jobs. This was the result of 39,232 gross job gains and 27,819 gross job losses. The transportation and warehousing industry had a net gain of 4,145 jobs. Retail trade showed a net loss of 5,436 jobs, the largest loss of any sector in the state. Virginia’s professional and business services industry sector had a net loss of 5,340 jobs.

For more information

The BED data series include gross job gains and gross job losses by industry subsector, for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as well as gross job gains and gross job losses at the firm level by employer size class. BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. Additional information is available online at the Business Employment Dynamics homepage and the Business Employment Dynamics Summary.

The Business Employment Dynamics for First Quarter 2025 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Revisions to Business Employment Dynamics (BED) Data

The release of First Quarter 2025 Business Employment Dynamics data, scheduled for October 29, 2025, will incorporate annual revisions in accordance with standard procedures. The revisions will include the previous four quarters of not seasonally adjusted data and five years of seasonally adjusted data.

Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records.

More information on formal definitions of the data used in this release, along with coverage, concepts, and methodology, can be found in the Business Employment Dynamics Technical Note.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Private-sector gross job gains and losses by industry, Virginia, seasonally adjusted
Category	Gross job gains and losses (3 months ended)					Gross job gains and losses as a percent of employment (3 months ended)
Category	Dec. 2023	Mar. 2024	June 2024	Sept. 2024	Dec. 2024	Dec. 2023	Mar. 2024	June 2024	Sept. 2024	Dec. 2024
Total private (1)
Gross job gains	199,237	191,176	190,520	192,774	193,916	5.9	5.7	5.7	5.8	5.8
At expanding establishments	154,854	147,033	150,958	150,644	150,162	4.6	4.4	4.5	4.5	4.5
At opening establishments	44,383	44,143	39,562	42,130	43,754	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.3	1.3
Gross job losses	183,131	174,641	189,462	186,146	185,156	5.5	5.2	5.6	5.5	5.5
At contracting establishments	141,956	137,930	151,303	152,298	141,576	4.3	4.1	4.5	4.5	4.2
At closing establishments	41,175	36,711	38,159	33,848	43,580	1.2	1.1	1.1	1.0	1.3
Net employment change (2)	16,106	16,535	1,058	6,628	8,760	0.4	0.5	0.1	0.3	0.3
Construction
Gross job gains	15,666	16,088	13,510	13,430	16,066	7.3	7.4	6.2	6.2	7.3
At expanding establishments	12,711	13,552	11,287	11,137	13,406	5.9	6.2	5.2	5.1	6.1
At opening establishments	2,955	2,536	2,223	2,293	2,660	1.4	1.2	1.0	1.1	1.2
Gross job losses	14,122	14,027	13,999	13,050	13,535	6.6	6.4	6.4	6.0	6.1
At contracting establishments	10,695	11,163	11,099	10,633	10,409	5.0	5.1	5.1	4.9	4.7
At closing establishments	3,427	2,864	2,900	2,417	3,126	1.6	1.3	1.3	1.1	1.4
Net employment change (2)	1,544	2,061	-489	380	2,531	0.7	1.0	-0.2	0.2	1.2
Manufacturing
Gross job gains	7,650	7,793	7,168	8,031	6,582	3.1	3.2	2.9	3.3	2.8
At expanding establishments	6,583	6,796	6,194	5,307	5,716	2.7	2.8	2.5	2.2	2.4
At opening establishments	1,067	997	974	2,724	866	0.4	0.4	0.4	1.1	0.4
Gross job losses	8,792	6,584	7,046	8,376	8,418	3.6	2.7	2.9	3.5	3.5
At contracting establishments	7,567	5,537	6,007	7,631	7,471	3.1	2.3	2.5	3.2	3.1
At closing establishments	1,225	1,047	1,039	745	947	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.4
Net employment change (2)	-1,142	1,209	122	-345	-1,836	-0.5	0.5	0.0	-0.2	-0.7
Wholesale trade
Gross job gains	4,612	4,861	4,213	4,769	4,065	4.0	4.3	3.7	4.2	3.6
At expanding establishments	3,693	3,854	3,604	4,163	3,309	3.2	3.4	3.2	3.7	2.9
At opening establishments	919	1,007	609	606	756	0.8	0.9	0.5	0.5	0.7
Gross job losses	4,348	4,382	4,654	4,196	4,997	3.8	3.8	4.1	3.7	4.4
At contracting establishments	3,346	3,340	3,713	3,393	3,954	2.9	2.9	3.3	3.0	3.5
At closing establishments	1,002	1,042	941	803	1,043	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.7	0.9
Net employment change (2)	264	479	-441	573	-932	0.2	0.5	-0.4	0.5	-0.8
Retail trade
Gross job gains	18,794	22,140	20,106	19,794	17,375	4.8	5.6	5.1	5.0	4.5
At expanding establishments	16,096	18,992	17,456	17,784	14,622	4.1	4.8	4.4	4.5	3.8
At opening establishments	2,698	3,148	2,650	2,010	2,753	0.7	0.8	0.7	0.5	0.7
Gross job losses	21,347	17,420	21,628	21,867	22,811	5.5	4.5	5.4	5.6	5.8
At contracting establishments	18,731	15,135	19,221	19,253	19,956	4.8	3.9	4.8	4.9	5.1
At closing establishments	2,616	2,285	2,407	2,614	2,855	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7
Net employment change (2)	-2,553	4,720	-1,522	-2,073	-5,436	-0.7	1.1	-0.3	-0.6	-1.3
Transportation and warehousing
Gross job gains	12,285	6,885	8,640	7,803	9,623	8.2	4.5	5.7	5.2	6.3
At expanding establishments	11,033	5,993	7,347	6,155	8,703	7.4	3.9	4.8	4.1	5.7
At opening establishments	1,252	892	1,293	1,648	920	0.8	0.6	0.9	1.1	0.6
Gross job losses	6,838	8,659	7,928	6,764	5,478	4.6	5.7	5.2	4.5	3.6
At contracting establishments	5,414	7,641	6,361	6,207	4,565	3.6	5.0	4.2	4.1	3.0
At closing establishments	1,424	1,018	1,567	557	913	1.0	0.7	1.0	0.4	0.6
Net employment change (2)	5,447	-1,774	712	1,039	4,145	3.6	-1.2	0.5	0.7	2.7
Information
Gross job gains	3,774	2,601	3,223	3,354	2,863	5.4	3.7	4.6	4.8	4.1
At expanding establishments	2,322	1,972	2,726	2,558	2,162	3.3	2.8	3.9	3.7	3.1
At opening establishments	1,452	629	497	796	701	2.1	0.9	0.7	1.1	1.0
Gross job losses	3,917	3,059	2,997	3,896	3,826	5.7	4.4	4.3	5.6	5.5
At contracting establishments	3,371	2,512	2,281	2,834	2,765	4.9	3.6	3.3	4.1	4.0
At closing establishments	546	547	716	1,062	1,061	0.8	0.8	1.0	1.5	1.5
Net employment change (2)	-143	-458	226	-542	-963	-0.3	-0.7	0.3	-0.8	-1.4
Financial activities
Gross job gains	9,617	8,334	9,016	8,825	8,970	4.7	4.1	4.4	4.3	4.4
At expanding establishments	6,948	6,340	7,109	7,021	6,463	3.4	3.1	3.5	3.4	3.2
At opening establishments	2,669	1,994	1,907	1,804	2,507	1.3	1.0	0.9	0.9	1.2
Gross job losses	10,722	9,100	9,166	8,771	9,022	5.2	4.4	4.5	4.3	4.4
At contracting establishments	8,251	7,054	6,924	6,516	6,440	4.0	3.4	3.4	3.2	3.1
At closing establishments	2,471	2,046	2,242	2,255	2,582	1.2	1.0	1.1	1.1	1.3
Net employment change (2)	-1,105	-766	-150	54	-52	-0.5	-0.3	-0.1	0.0	0.0
Professional and business services
Gross job gains	42,830	42,072	45,486	48,729	41,912	5.4	5.3	5.6	6.0	5.2
At expanding establishments	32,558	31,985	36,299	35,601	31,517	4.1	4.0	4.5	4.4	3.9
At opening establishments	10,272	10,087	9,187	13,128	10,395	1.3	1.3	1.1	1.6	1.3
Gross job losses	45,556	42,645	43,715	44,408	47,252	5.7	5.3	5.4	5.5	5.8
At contracting establishments	34,618	32,702	34,815	35,746	35,145	4.3	4.1	4.3	4.4	4.3
At closing establishments	10,938	9,943	8,900	8,662	12,107	1.4	1.2	1.1	1.1	1.5
Net employment change (2)	-2,726	-573	1,771	4,321	-5,340	-0.3	0.0	0.2	0.5	-0.6
Education and health services
Gross job gains	30,751	30,718	30,062	31,879	29,772	5.5	5.5	5.3	5.6	5.2
At expanding establishments	22,983	23,577	23,041	25,490	22,743	4.1	4.2	4.1	4.5	4.0
At opening establishments	7,768	7,141	7,021	6,389	7,029	1.4	1.3	1.2	1.1	1.2
Gross job losses	25,293	23,075	26,375	23,566	29,357	4.5	4.1	4.6	4.1	5.1
At contracting establishments	17,372	16,896	19,880	18,404	19,107	3.1	3.0	3.5	3.2	3.3
At closing establishments	7,921	6,179	6,495	5,162	10,250	1.4	1.1	1.1	0.9	1.8
Net employment change (2)	5,458	7,643	3,687	8,313	415	1.0	1.4	0.7	1.5	0.1
Leisure and hospitality
Gross job gains	37,530	32,815	32,978	32,705	39,232	9.1	7.8	8.0	8.0	9.5
At expanding establishments	29,530	24,005	25,996	26,266	32,241	7.2	5.7	6.3	6.4	7.8
At opening establishments	8,000	8,810	6,982	6,439	6,991	1.9	2.1	1.7	1.6	1.7
Gross job losses	29,874	32,634	38,392	38,612	27,819	7.2	7.8	9.3	9.4	6.7
At contracting establishments	24,114	26,835	31,427	32,367	22,995	5.8	6.4	7.6	7.9	5.5
At closing establishments	5,760	5,799	6,965	6,245	4,824	1.4	1.4	1.7	1.5	1.2
Net employment change (2)	7,656	181	-5,414	-5,907	11,413	1.9	0.0	-1.3	-1.4	2.8
Other services (3)
Gross job gains	8,982	8,696	8,755	8,318	8,391	7.1	6.8	6.8	6.5	6.6
At expanding establishments	6,858	6,296	6,419	6,384	6,141	5.4	4.9	5.0	5.0	4.8
At opening establishments	2,124	2,400	2,336	1,934	2,250	1.7	1.9	1.8	1.5	1.8
Gross job losses	7,910	8,104	8,888	8,504	8,497	6.2	6.3	6.9	6.6	6.6
At contracting establishments	5,831	6,024	6,588	6,588	6,294	4.6	4.7	5.1	5.1	4.9
At closing establishments	2,079	2,080	2,300	1,916	2,203	1.6	1.6	1.8	1.5	1.7
Net employment change (2)	1,072	592	-133	-186	-106	0.9	0.5	-0.1	-0.1	0.0
Footnotes: (1) Includes unclassified sector not shown separately. (2) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. See the Technical Note for further information. (3) Except public administration.

Table 2. Private-sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of total employment by state, seasonally adjusted
Category	Gross job gains as a percent of employment (3 months ended)					Gross job losses as a percent of employment (3 months ended)
Category	Dec. 2023	Mar. 2024	June 2024	Sept. 2024	Dec. 2024	Dec. 2023	Mar. 2024	June 2024	Sept. 2024	Dec. 2024
United States(1)	6.0	5.7	5.8	5.8	5.8	5.7	5.4	5.9	5.8	5.7
Alabama	6.2	5.7	5.6	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.5	5.6	5.9	5.3
Alaska	10.2	10.5	10.2	7.9	10.3	9.9	8.6	9.6	9.7	9.6
Arizona	6.5	8.4	5.6	6.3	6.1	6.6	6.4	6.8	6.5	6.0
Arkansas	6.2	5.6	5.2	5.2	5.8	5.0	5.2	5.8	5.2	4.8
California	6.4	5.8	6.1	6.4	6.6	6.4	5.6	6.8	6.1	6.4
Colorado	8.2	6.4	6.5	6.3	6.1	7.6	7.7	6.2	6.7	6.7
Connecticut	5.6	5.6	5.8	5.5	5.5	5.7	5.2	5.6	5.7	5.6
Delaware	6.1	6.0	5.9	6.8	6.1	5.8	5.1	6.5	6.4	6.4
District of Columbia	5.2	5.1	5.1	4.9	5.0	5.6	4.9	6.0	5.0	5.5
Florida	6.1	5.8	6.0	6.6	6.0	5.9	5.4	5.9	5.7	6.2
Georgia	6.2	6.0	5.7	5.7	6.0	5.7	5.7	5.7	6.1	5.4
Hawaii	6.1	5.4	5.1	5.6	5.3	5.0	5.1	5.4	5.0	4.9
Idaho	8.5	7.9	7.5	7.2	8.2	5.8	8.3	7.4	7.6	6.8
Illinois	5.0	5.1	5.2	5.0	5.1	5.1	4.8	5.3	5.1	5.2
Indiana	5.5	5.3	5.2	5.3	5.4	5.1	5.0	5.5	5.4	5.2
Iowa	6.1	6.1	5.5	5.2	5.5	5.7	5.6	5.7	6.0	5.6
Kansas	5.8	5.7	5.8	5.3	5.9	5.3	5.6	5.7	5.6	5.2
Kentucky	5.7	5.7	5.2	5.4	5.3	5.2	5.0	5.9	5.5	5.5
Louisiana	6.3	6.2	5.7	6.1	6.2	5.8	5.7	6.3	5.8	5.4
Maine	7.4	7.2	7.3	6.2	6.7	7.0	6.1	7.0	7.0	7.0
Maryland	6.2	5.8	7.2	6.1	6.0	5.8	5.7	6.5	6.1	5.9
Massachusetts	5.5	5.2	5.7	4.9	5.3	5.5	5.1	5.6	5.8	5.6
Michigan	5.5	5.4	5.7	5.4	5.4	5.5	5.2	5.6	5.8	6.0
Minnesota	6.9	5.8	5.7	5.1	5.5	6.9	5.7	5.4	5.9	5.1
Mississippi	6.1	5.7	5.8	6.1	6.3	5.7	6.1	6.3	5.7	6.4
Missouri	6.0	5.7	5.6	5.5	5.7	5.6	5.3	5.8	5.8	5.3
Montana	8.8	8.1	7.9	7.3	8.4	7.2	7.5	7.6	8.1	7.8
Nebraska	5.9	5.8	5.4	5.6	5.6	5.7	5.1	5.6	5.6	5.5
Nevada	6.7	5.9	5.8	6.1	6.2	5.4	6.2	5.7	5.9	5.8
New Hampshire	6.2	6.5	6.1	5.5	6.3	5.9	5.8	6.0	6.7	5.9
New Jersey	5.9	5.5	5.9	5.3	6.0	5.8	5.4	5.4	5.8	5.3
New Mexico	6.9	6.0	6.0	6.2	5.8	5.8	6.0	6.3	6.3	5.9
New York	5.7	5.9	5.9	5.6	5.6	5.6	5.0	5.5	5.7	5.5
North Carolina	6.3	5.4	5.6	5.6	6.1	4.9	5.5	5.7	6.1	5.5
North Dakota	6.7	6.9	6.6	6.5	6.5	6.3	6.1	6.6	6.6	6.7
Ohio	5.4	5.5	5.2	5.1	5.4	5.2	4.8	5.4	5.4	5.1
Oklahoma	6.1	5.6	5.6	6.0	5.9	5.8	5.2	6.4	5.6	5.4
Oregon	6.2	6.4	6.0	6.3	6.2	6.2	6.1	6.4	6.6	6.8
Pennsylvania	5.2	5.1	4.9	5.1	5.2	4.8	4.6	5.1	5.1	4.8
Rhode Island	6.8	6.9	6.6	6.2	7.2	6.3	5.7	6.7	6.5	6.3
South Carolina	6.2	6.4	5.9	6.2	6.5	5.3	6.3	6.4	5.9	6.0
South Dakota	6.6	6.3	6.0	5.9	6.7	5.8	5.8	6.3	5.9	5.9
Tennessee	6.2	5.5	5.5	5.6	5.6	5.5	4.9	5.7	5.8	5.0
Texas	5.7	5.4	5.4	5.6	5.8	5.2	5.1	5.3	5.3	5.1
Utah	6.6	6.7	6.4	6.6	6.6	6.5	6.0	6.6	6.1	6.2
Vermont	7.3	7.2	6.6	6.6	6.7	6.6	6.3	7.5	7.3	6.8
Virginia	5.9	5.7	5.7	5.8	5.8	5.5	5.2	5.6	5.5	5.5
Washington	6.0	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.4	5.3	5.3	5.4	5.3
West Virginia	6.5	6.9	6.6	5.8	6.4	5.8	5.7	6.8	6.6	6.1
Wisconsin	5.5	5.5	5.3	5.0	5.3	5.2	4.8	5.5	5.4	5.0
Wyoming	8.9	8.4	8.2	8.6	8.8	8.4	8.3	9.0	9.0	8.4
Puerto Rico	4.9	5.4	5.6	5.4	4.4	4.8	4.6	4.9	5.1	5.5
Virgin Islands	6.0	5.6	4.3	4.4	4.0	5.9	4.5	5.1	6.1	12.6
Footnotes (1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. The sum of the states will not necessarily add to the U.S. total because of the independent seasonal adjustment of each state.

Last Modified Date: Friday, August 01, 2025

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