Virginia Works announced that 2,590 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending January 3, 2026, which is 47.5 percent higher than last week’s 1,756 claims and 11.9 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (2,314).
Nearly 74 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (58 percent) were Manufacturing (233); Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (227); Construction (221); Accommodation and Food Services (218); and Administrative and Support and Waste Management (189).
Continued weeks claims (18,946) were 3.2 percent higher than last week (18,367) and were 18.5 percent higher than the comparable week of last year (15,983). Nearly 92 percent of claimants self-reported an employer which correlates to an associated industry. Based on this reporting, the top five industries (59 percent) were Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (3,886); Administrative and Support and Waste Management (2,282); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,462); Manufacturing (1,331); and Accommodation and Food Services (1,309).
