Henrico's unemployment rate dips in October

Henrico County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in October – from 3.1% in September to 2.8%, just slightly below the statewide average of 2.8% – according to new data from the Virginia Employment Commission.

The county’s rate was 0.2% lower than the same figure last October. Henrico’s October workforce (defined as adults who are actively seeking employment) of 193,134 was its lowest since May but represented an increase of about 1,200 from last October.

A total of 5,473 people in Henrico who were seeking work in October weren’t able to find it, according to the data – a drop of nearly 450 people from September and 364 fewer than were unemployed in the county last October.

Since January 2023, the county’s unemployment rate has fluctuated just slightly between a low of 2.3% (this April) and a high of 3.5% (this August), according to the VEC.

Chesterfield County’s unemployment rate in October also was 2.8%, while Hanover’s was 2.5% and Richmond’s was 3.5%.

The statewide unemployment rate of 2.8% in October was more than a full point lower than the national average of 3.9%.