RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia's unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in September, the lowest it's been since 2008, even though the state lost a total of 200 jobs last month.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe's office said Tuesday that Virginia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has declined for three straight months and is lower than the national average.
But Virginian's job growth continues to lag behind the nation and its unemployment rate is dropping because its labor force is shrinking, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.
The commission said September was the state's third consecutive monthly job loss. The private sector increased by 2,100 jobs last month, but government jobs decreased by 2,300, according to the commission.
Virginia's economy is heavily reliant on federal spending.
