Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Counties in Virginia

Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Highland County had the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 133 counties in 2023, at 16%. Lexington city had the lowest, at 0.7%. The median was 4.1% and the figure for Virginia was 4.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest16Highland County
Lowest0.7Lexington city
Median4.1133 counties
Virginia4.3History

Map of counties, 2023

Accomack County: 3.8 %Albemarle County: 3.3 %Alleghany County: 2.5 %Amelia County: 5.3 %Amherst County: 3.8 %Appomattox County: 4.2 %Arlington County: 3.3 %Augusta County: 3 %Bath County: 2 %Bedford County: 3.2 %Bland County: 1.7 %Botetourt County: 2.6 %Brunswick County: 6.3 %Buchanan County: 3.6 %Buckingham County: 4.9 %Campbell County: 4.7 %Caroline County: 4.6 %Carroll County: 5 %Charles City County: 4.9 %Charlotte County: 2.3 %Chesterfield County: 4.6 %Clarke County: 3.5 %Craig County: 2.3 %Culpeper County: 2.9 %Cumberland County: 2.9 %Dickenson County: 2.7 %Dinwiddie County: 4.8 %Essex County: 6.3 %Fairfax County: 4 %Fauquier County: 2.4 %Floyd County: 3.3 %Fluvanna County: 3.8 %Franklin County: 2.7 %Frederick County: 4.1 %Giles County: 2.3 %Gloucester County: 3.3 %Goochland County: 2.6 %Grayson County: 3.9 %Greene County: 3.1 %Greensville County: 6.7 %Halifax County: 4 %Hanover County: 2.7 %Henrico County: 3.9 %Henry County: 4.1 %Highland County: 16 %Isle of Wight County: 4.6 %James City County: 3.5 %King and Queen County: 4.9 %King George County: 3.8 %King William County: 3.5 %Lancaster County: 10 %Lee County: 9.3 %Loudoun County: 3.2 %Louisa County: 5.7 %Lunenburg County: 3.6 %Madison County: 4.2 %Mathews County: 6 %Mecklenburg County: 3 %Middlesex County: 4.4 %Montgomery County: 3.3 %Nelson County: 3.3 %New Kent County: 2.7 %Northampton County: 4.2 %Northumberland County: 3.8 %Nottoway County: 5.3 %Orange County: 3.7 %Page County: 5 %Patrick County: 2 %Pittsylvania County: 5 %Powhatan County: 3.1 %Prince Edward County: 2.3 %Prince George County: 5.6 %Prince William County: 4.5 %Pulaski County: 3.6 %Rappahannock County: 7.3 %Richmond County: 2.9 %Roanoke County: 2.9 %Rockbridge County: 3.3 %Rockingham County: 2.8 %Russell County: 4.4 %Scott County: 2.9 %Shenandoah County: 3.9 %Smyth County: 3 %Southampton County: 6.2 %Spotsylvania County: 5.2 %Stafford County: 3.8 %Surry County: 5 %Sussex County: 4.4 %Tazewell County: 4.8 %Warren County: 4.8 %Washington County: 3.7 %Westmoreland County: 7.6 %Wise County: 8.4 %Wythe County: 3.9 %York County: 4.3 %Alexandria city: 3.4 %Bristol city: 4.4 %Buena Vista city: 2.2 %Charlottesville city: 4.7 %Chesapeake city: 4.9 %Colonial Heights city: 3.7 %Covington city: 2.4 %Danville city: 4.9 %Emporia city: 3.4 %Fairfax city: 4.5 %Falls Church city: 6.3 %Franklin city: 4.7 %Fredericksburg city: 4.6 %Galax city: 5.5 %Hampton city: 6.3 %Harrisonburg city: 7.1 %Hopewell city: 9.3 %Lexington city: 0.7 %Lynchburg city: 5 %Manassas city: 3.3 %Manassas Park city: 3.4 %Martinsville city: 4.4 %Newport News city: 5.9 %Norfolk city: 6.1 %Norton city: 5.4 %Petersburg city: 11.4 %Poquoson city: 1.8 %Portsmouth city: 6.6 %Radford city: 7.6 %Richmond city: 6 %Roanoke city: 5.5 %Salem city: 3.4 %Staunton city: 5 %Suffolk city: 5.3 %Virginia Beach city: 4.3 %Waynesboro city: 3.8 %Williamsburg city: 7.1 %Winchester city: 5.9 %
  • Under 2.9
  • 2.9 to 3.5
  • 3.5 to 4
  • 4 to 4.8
  • 4.8 to 5.9
  • 5.9 and over
%, 2023. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2023

Highland County: 16 %Highland County16Petersburg city: 11.4 %Petersburg city11.4Lancaster County: 10 %Lancaster County10Hopewell city: 9.3 %Hopewell city9.3Lee County: 9.3 %Lee County9.3Wise County: 8.4 %Wise County8.4Radford city: 7.6 %Radford city7.6Westmoreland County: 7.6 %Westmoreland County7.6Rappahannock County: 7.3 %Rappahannock County7.3Williamsburg city: 7.1 %Williamsburg city7.1Harrisonburg city: 7.1 %Harrisonburg city7.1Greensville County: 6.7 %Greensville County6.7Portsmouth city: 6.6 %Portsmouth city6.6Brunswick County: 6.3 %Brunswick County6.3Falls Church city: 6.3 %Falls Church city6.3Hampton city: 6.3 %Hampton city6.3Essex County: 6.3 %Essex County6.3Southampton County: 6.2 %Southampton County6.2Norfolk city: 6.1 %Norfolk city6.1Richmond city: 6 %Richmond city6Mathews County: 6 %Mathews County6Newport News city: 5.9 %Newport News city5.9Winchester city: 5.9 %Winchester city5.9Louisa County: 5.7 %Louisa County5.7Prince George County: 5.6 %Prince George County5.6Roanoke city: 5.5 %Roanoke city5.5Galax city: 5.5 %Galax city5.5Norton city: 5.4 %Norton city5.4Suffolk city: 5.3 %Suffolk city5.3Amelia County: 5.3 %Amelia County5.3Nottoway County: 5.3 %Nottoway County5.3Spotsylvania County: 5.2 %Spotsylvania County5.2Lynchburg city: 5 %Lynchburg city5Carroll County: 5 %Carroll County5Page County: 5 %Page County5Staunton city: 5 %Staunton city5Pittsylvania County: 5 %Pittsylvania County5Surry County: 5 %Surry County5Danville city: 4.9 %Danville city4.9Chesapeake city: 4.9 %Chesapeake city4.9Highland County: 16 %Highland County16Petersburg city: 11.4 %Petersburg city11.4Lancaster County: 10 %Lancaster County10Hopewell city: 9.3 %Hopewell city9.3Lee County: 9.3 %Lee County9.3Wise County: 8.4 %Wise County8.4Radford city: 7.6 %Radford city7.6Westmoreland County: 7.6 %Westmoreland County7.6Rappahannock County: 7.3 %Rappahannock County7.3Williamsburg city: 7.1 %Williamsburg city7.1Harrisonburg city: 7.1 %Harrisonburg city7.1Greensville County: 6.7 %Greensville County6.7Portsmouth city: 6.6 %Portsmouth city6.6Brunswick County: 6.3 %Brunswick County6.3Falls Church city: 6.3 %Falls Church city6.3Hampton city: 6.3 %Hampton city6.3Essex County: 6.3 %Essex County6.3Southampton County: 6.2 %Southampton County6.2Norfolk city: 6.1 %Norfolk city6.1Richmond city: 6 %Richmond city6Mathews County: 6 %Mathews County6Newport News city: 5.9 %Newport News city5.9Winchester city: 5.9 %Winchester city5.9Louisa County: 5.7 %Louisa County5.7Prince George County: 5.6 %Prince George County5.6Roanoke city: 5.5 %Roanoke city5.5Galax city: 5.5 %Galax city5.5Norton city: 5.4 %Norton city5.4Suffolk city: 5.3 %Suffolk city5.3Amelia County: 5.3 %Amelia County5.3Nottoway County: 5.3 %Nottoway County5.3Spotsylvania County: 5.2 %Spotsylvania County5.2Lynchburg city: 5 %Lynchburg city5Carroll County: 5 %Carroll County5Page County: 5 %Page County5Staunton city: 5 %Staunton city5Pittsylvania County: 5 %Pittsylvania County5Surry County: 5 %Surry County5Danville city: 4.9 %Danville city4.9Chesapeake city: 4.9 %Chesapeake city4.9
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Highland County16+1.4 pts
2Petersburg city11.40 pts
3Lancaster County10+0.7 pts
4Hopewell city9.3+0.6 pts
5Lee County9.3+1.2 pts
6Wise County8.4-0.7 pts
7Radford city7.6+0.4 pts
8Westmoreland County7.6-1.6 pts
9Rappahannock County7.3+0.8 pts
10Williamsburg city7.1+1.1 pts
11Harrisonburg city7.1+0.3 pts
12Greensville County6.7+0.4 pts
13Portsmouth city6.6-0 pts
14Brunswick County6.3+1.2 pts
15Falls Church city6.3+0.3 pts
16Hampton city6.3-0.2 pts
17Essex County6.3-3.5 pts
18Southampton County6.2+0.8 pts
19Norfolk city6.1-0.6 pts
20Richmond city6-0.1 pts
21Mathews County6-2.2 pts
22Newport News city5.9+0.3 pts
23Winchester city5.9+0.6 pts
24Louisa County5.7-0.7 pts
25Prince George County5.6-1.8 pts
26Roanoke city5.5-1.1 pts
27Galax city5.5+1.1 pts
28Norton city5.4-1.9 pts
29Suffolk city5.3-1 pts
30Amelia County5.3+1.1 pts
30Nottoway County5.3-1.1 pts
32Spotsylvania County5.2-0.4 pts
33Lynchburg city5-0.4 pts
34Carroll County5+0.2 pts
34Page County5+0.4 pts
36Staunton city5-0 pts
37Pittsylvania County5-0.4 pts
38Surry County5-1.1 pts
39Danville city4.9-0.8 pts
40Chesapeake city4.9-0.1 pts
41King and Queen County4.9-0.8 pts
42Charles City County4.9+0.8 pts
43Buckingham County4.9-0.2 pts
44Dinwiddie County4.8+0.1 pts
45Warren County4.8-0.9 pts
46Tazewell County4.8-0.9 pts
47Franklin city4.7-0.6 pts
48Campbell County4.7-0.3 pts
48Charlottesville city4.7-0.4 pts
50Chesterfield County4.6-0.1 pts
50Fredericksburg city4.6-0.6 pts
52Isle of Wight County4.6-0.9 pts
53Caroline County4.6-0.1 pts
54Fairfax city4.5+0.8 pts
54Prince William County4.5-0.2 pts
56Martinsville city4.4+0.2 pts
57Middlesex County4.4-0.2 pts
58Sussex County4.4-0.6 pts
59Bristol city4.4+0.3 pts
60Russell County4.4-1.5 pts
61Virginia Beach city4.30 pts
62York County4.3+0.1 pts
63Madison County4.2+0.5 pts
64Appomattox County4.2+0.7 pts
65Northampton County4.2-0.6 pts
66Frederick County4.1-0 pts
67Henry County4.1-1.2 pts
68Fairfax County4-0.1 pts
69Halifax County4+0.3 pts
70Shenandoah County3.9-0.3 pts
71Grayson County3.9-0.4 pts
71Henrico County3.9-0 pts
73Wythe County3.9-1.3 pts
74Amherst County3.8-0.6 pts
74Stafford County3.8-0.1 pts
76Accomack County3.8+0.1 pts
76Waynesboro city3.8-0.9 pts
78Fluvanna County3.8+0.8 pts
79King George County3.8+1.2 pts
80Northumberland County3.8-1.2 pts
81Washington County3.7-0.5 pts
82Orange County3.7-0.7 pts
83Colonial Heights city3.7-2.4 pts
84Lunenburg County3.6-0.3 pts
85Buchanan County3.6-2.3 pts
86Pulaski County3.6+0.3 pts
87James City County3.5-0.1 pts
88King William County3.5-0.4 pts
89Clarke County3.5-0 pts
90Salem city3.4-0.1 pts
91Manassas Park city3.4+0.3 pts
92Emporia city3.4-3.6 pts
93Alexandria city3.4+0.1 pts
94Albemarle County3.3+0.2 pts
95Nelson County3.3+0.1 pts
96Gloucester County3.3-0.1 pts
96Montgomery County3.30 pts
98Floyd County3.3+0.7 pts
98Manassas city3.3-0 pts
100Rockbridge County3.3-0.6 pts
101Arlington County3.3+0.5 pts
102Loudoun County3.20 pts
103Bedford County3.2+0.3 pts
104Powhatan County3.1+0.5 pts
105Greene County3.1-0.8 pts
106Smyth County3-0.2 pts
107Augusta County30 pts
108Mecklenburg County3-0.6 pts
109Scott County2.9-0.5 pts
110Roanoke County2.9+0.3 pts
111Cumberland County2.9-0.3 pts
112Culpeper County2.9-1 pts
113Richmond County2.9-1.1 pts
114Rockingham County2.8-0 pts
115Dickenson County2.7-0.7 pts
116New Kent County2.7-0.4 pts
117Hanover County2.7-0.3 pts
118Franklin County2.7-0.2 pts
119Botetourt County2.6-0.5 pts
120Goochland County2.6+0.2 pts
121Alleghany County2.5-1.2 pts
122Covington city2.4-0.2 pts
123Fauquier County2.40 pts
124Charlotte County2.3-1.3 pts
124Craig County2.3+0.5 pts
126Giles County2.3+0.1 pts
127Prince Edward County2.3-0.1 pts
128Buena Vista city2.2+0.9 pts
129Patrick County2-0.2 pts
130Bath County20 pts
131Poquoson city1.8+0.4 pts
132Bland County1.7-1.6 pts
133Lexington city0.7-1.8 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed civilians aged 16 and over as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

An average over five years of survey responses, so it moves slowly. The official monthly and annual rates for states and counties are unemployment_rate, from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Highland County, with 16% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Lexington city, with 0.7% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in Virginia: more rankings