In its most recent report, the Virginia Employment Commission announced that Virginia Non-farm Employment had reached the second highest level EVER recorded.  The figure of 3,798,200 employed Virginia’s represented a year-over-year increase of 20,600 jobs, or 0.5%.  Those aren’t mind blowing numbers, but keep in mind that the national economy suffered a 0.8% job LOSS in the same 12 month period.

Other interesting statistics from the report:

• Virginia’s unemployment rate of 4.4% was the eight best in the nation.  Only 7 small, mid-western and rocky mountain states did better.
• Virginia continued to have the lowest unemployment rate among the 13 largest states with non-farm employment bases over 3.5 million.
• 3 out of the 4 best major metropolitan areas with populations over 1 million were in Virginia.
• The Washington/DC MSA was the lowest at 4.1%
• The Virginia Beach MSA was the third lowest at 4.3% (Oklahoma City slid in at number 2)
• The Richmond MSA was the fourth lowest at 4.4%

Virginia continues to be the #1 state to do business, even in a very difficult economy.