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Alexandria's unemployment rises nearly 34% year over year in latest data
News
Alexandria’s unemployment rises nearly 34% year over year in latest data
By Scott McCaffrey
Published April 20, 2026 at 8:30AM
The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Unemployment among city residents rose by one-third year over year to start 2026, according to new state data.
A total of 3,656 Alexandria residents were reported as seeking jobs in January, according to figures released April 16 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. ... That’s up 33.9% from the 2,731 seeking work in January 2025.
Alexandria’s increase was similar to that of Fairfax County, which saw a 33.8% rise in joblessness year over year. ... Increases were higher in Arlington (up 54.7%) and Falls Church (54.9%).
Owing to the higher level of joblessness, the city’s unemployment rate grew from 2.7% in January 2025 to 3.7% in January 2026.
{snip}
Scott McCaffrey
A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.
Alexandria’s unemployment rises nearly 34% year over year in latest data
By Scott McCaffrey
Published April 20, 2026 at 8:30AM
The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Unemployment among city residents rose by one-third year over year to start 2026, according to new state data.
A total of 3,656 Alexandria residents were reported as seeking jobs in January, according to figures released April 16 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. ... That’s up 33.9% from the 2,731 seeking work in January 2025.
Alexandria’s increase was similar to that of Fairfax County, which saw a 33.8% rise in joblessness year over year. ... Increases were higher in Arlington (up 54.7%) and Falls Church (54.9%).
Owing to the higher level of joblessness, the city’s unemployment rate grew from 2.7% in January 2025 to 3.7% in January 2026.
{snip}
Scott McCaffrey
A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.