Virginia’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.6 percent in October, which is 2.5 percentage points below the rate from one year ago, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate of 4.6 percent.

The state’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.0 percent. This rate is above the national rate of 61.6 percent.Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 19,400 jobs in October. The labor force increased by 5,918 to 4,256,634, as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 7,566 to 154,126. The number of employed residents rose by 13,484 to 4,102,508. In October 2021, Virginia saw over-the-year job gains of 2.0 percent.

Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, 10 of 11 major industry divisions experienced employment increases. The largest over-the-year job gain occurred in leisure and hospitality, up 25,200 jobs or 7.6 percent. The next largest over-the-year job gain occurred in profe...