Article Text

Fairfax County’s unemployment rolls climbed 43% in a year, reflecting the economic fallout from sweeping federal government cutbacks across the Washington region.

The county had 24,051 residents seeking work in November 2025, according to preliminary figures released Jan. 22 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. That was up from 16,761 in November 2024.

Over the same period, Fairfax County’s unemployment rate rose from 2.6% to 3.8%. November marked the ninth consecutive month in which the rate exceeded 3%.

The increase comes as Virginia loses federal government positions after nearly two decades of mostly steady growth. The state recorded a net decline of 23,500 civilian federal jobs through November, leaving employment in the sector at its lowest level since at least 2015, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Unemployment also increased elsewhere in Northern Virginia. Arlington had 5,370 unemployed residents, with its rate rising from 2.3% to 3.5%. Alexandria counted 3,723 residents seeking work as its rate increased from 2.5% to 3.8%.

Falls Church reported 344 unemployed residents and a rate of 4.2%, up from 2.5%. Loudoun County had 8,953 unemployed residents, with its rate climbing from 2.5% to 3.6%.

Prince William County counted 9,958 unemployed residents as its rate rose from 2.7% to 3.8%. Fairfax City reported 478 residents seeking work and a rate of 3.4%, up from 2.5%.

Across the Northern Virginia portion of the Washington metropolitan area, 65,357 residents were unemployed in November 2025, compared with 46,381 a year earlier. The regional unemployment rate increased from 2.6% to 3.7%.

Virginia recorded 173,136 unemployed residents statewide, a 31.2% increase from 131,957 in November 2024.

Publication of the November 2025 figures was delayed by the seven-week federal government shutdown in the fall. October figures were not collected, and the November totals remain preliminary and subject to revision.