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Virginia Beach, VA-NC, Area Economic Summary
Updated September 04, 2026
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions and the nation.
Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are not seasonally adjusted and some
may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area summaries and geographic definitions, see
https://www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Unemployment rates for the nation and selected areas Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Unemployment rates Virginia Beach area, first quarter 2026
(U.S. = $1,654; Area = $1,326)
4.6
United States
4.4
3.6
Virginia beach area
3.9
Chesapeake city, 3.4
VA 3.6
Newport News 4.2
city, VA 4.3
4.1
Norfolk city, VA
4.4
Virginia Beach city, 3.1
VA 3.5
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0
Jul-25 Jul-26
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector, over-the-year changes
Change from Jul. 2025
12-month percent changes in employment Virginia Beach area employment
Jul. 2026 to Jul. 2026
3.0 (number in thousands)
Number Percent
2.5
Total nonfarm 830.3 -5.7 -0.7
2.0
Mining, logging, and construction 42.0 -1.2 -2.8
1.5 Manufacturing 53.9 -2.6 -4.6
1.0 Trade, transportation, and utilities 142.4 0.6 0.4
0.5 Information 7.2 -0.3 -4.0
0.0 Financial activities 39.0 -2.2 -5.3
-0.5 Professional and business services 122.9 0.8 0.7
-1.0 Education and health services 127.8 2.9 2.3
-1.5 Leisure and hospitality 101.7 0.0 0.0
Jul-23 Jul-24 Jul-25 Jul-26 Other services 34.7 -1.2 -3.3
Virginia Beach area Government 158.7 -2.5 -1.6
United States
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.Jump to an indexed page (2 of 2)