N.Va. adds 26,000 jobs in new year-over-year data

The Northern Virginia economy picked up 26,000 jobs year-over-year in the latest state data, but its growth rate slightly trails the statewide total.

The 1.7-percent increase in jobs for May (to 1,599,600 overall) across Northern Virginia compares to a 2-percent growth rate statewide (to 4,245,500), according to figures reported by the Virginia Employment Commission.

Northern Virginia’s jobs increase was highest in the commonwealth in raw terms, followed by Virginia Beach (+16,700). In percentage terms, Blacksburg/Christiansburg (+4%) and Charlottesville (+3.7%) posted the greatest increases.

All metro areas of the commonwealth saw year-over-year increases except for Staunton, which was flat.