Richmond unemployment sits at 3.6%, below the national 4.2%, even as total jobs moved −0.8%. Here is what that means for pay, sourcing and speed when you hire in the metro.
Richmond is a tight labor market that is not growing. Unemployment is 3.6%, under the U.S. rate of 4.2% and close to the 3.5% posted a year earlier. Yet total nonfarm jobs changed −0.8% over the year. Few people are out of work, and fewer new roles are opening, so most of your candidates already have a job.
That changes how you recruit. You are persuading employed people to switch, not catching the unemployed. Clear pay, fast replies and a short path from application to interview matter more than a wider ad spend. Virginia now also requires a wage or salary range in every job posting, so your pay has to stand on its own in public.
The tables below cover the labor snapshot, pay for common high-volume roles, the industry mix and the state hiring rules that apply. The notes around them turn each table into specific moves for employers, recruiters and operations leaders hiring across the Richmond metro.
A labor force of 714,148 with unemployment at 3.6% leaves a thin pool of active job seekers, and the −0.8% change in nonfarm jobs means that pool is not being refilled by new openings elsewhere. Expect most qualified applicants to be weighing your offer against a job they already hold.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, CES). "Preliminary" figures may be revised. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
| Occupation | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales representatives of services | $17.43 | $29.57 | $62.37 | 5,710 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing | $18.23 | $30.37 | $80.19 | 5,080 |
| Customer service representatives | $15.07 | $20.51 | $29.35 | 10,960 |
| Retail salespersons | $13.38 | $16.14 | $22.07 | 16,210 |
| Cashiers | $13.25 | $14.59 | $17.55 | 14,460 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers | $15.04 | $19.36 | $23.54 | 10,550 |
| Fast food and counter workers | $13.27 | $14.19 | $17.30 | 17,100 |
| Janitors and cleaners | $13.78 | $16.44 | $22.05 | 9,270 |
| Sales managers | $43.48 | $81.05 | $142.39 | 1,320 |
Most hourly medians here sit a bit under national levels, such as customer service reps at $20.51 against $21.53 nationally, while material movers match the U.S. at $19.36 and sales managers run above it at $81.05. Entry roles like cashiers start near $13.25 at the 10th percentile, just above the state minimum of $12.77, so scheduled minimum wage increases will press on your lowest bands first.
131,000 jobs · 18.0% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Trade, transportation, and utilities holds 18.0% of jobs and moved only −0.2%, so warehouse, driver and retail hiring stays steady and competitive, and volume workflows matter more than one-off ads.
123,600 jobs · 17.0% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Professional and business services fell −2.1%, which may put experienced contact-center, sales and admin workers back on the market, so reach out to them through targeted campaigns rather than waiting for applications.
108,100 jobs · 14.9% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Private education and health services, at 14.9% of jobs and −1.1% over the year, still needs aides, medical assistants and support staff, and those candidates often respond best to fast, text-based scheduling around shifts.
73,800 jobs · 10.1% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Leisure and hospitality grew +2.2%, the strongest gain among the top sectors, so expect more competition for servers, cooks and housekeeping staff and plan for repeat bulk hiring rather than single requisitions.
60,000 jobs · 8.2% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Financial activities slipped −1.3%, so teller, claims and service candidates with branch experience may be easier to find, though they will compare your posted range closely against what they earn now.
Trade, transportation, and utilities is the largest employer base at 18.0% of jobs, and Leisure and hospitality is the only top sector growing, at +2.2%. Office-based sectors are shrinking, which can free up customer-facing and administrative talent for employers who move quickly.
The rules table summarizes state requirements on background checks, ban-the-box, minimum wage, non-competes and pay transparency as general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the Virginia agency responsible or with your own counsel before changing postings, screening or agreements.
Virginia bars employers from requiring applicants to disclose expunged records and, for most employers, sealed records; no state credit-check limit was identified.
Source: Code of Virginia, § 19.2-392.4 and § 19.2-392.15 · checked October 15, 2026Virginia's ban-the-box laws cover only state agencies and local governments as employers; they do not reach private employers.
Source: Code of Virginia, § 2.2-2812.1 and § 15.2-1505.3 · checked October 15, 2026Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 an hour in 2026, rising by statute to $13.75 on January 1, 2027 and $15.00 on January 1, 2028.
Source: Code of Virginia, § 40.1-28.10 (Virginia Minimum Wage Act) · checked October 15, 2026Virginia bans non-competes for low-wage employees (below the state average weekly wage) and licensed health care professionals, and a non-compete is unenforceable if the employee is laid off without severance.
Source: Code of Virginia, § 40.1-28.7:8 · checked October 15, 2026Since July 1, 2026 Virginia employers must include the wage or salary range in every public and internal job posting and may not seek applicants' pay history.
Source: Code of Virginia, § 40.1-28.7:12 · checked October 15, 2026Full detail on the state rules is on the Virginia hiring page.
General information, not legal advice.
Employment rules change and have exceptions that depend on employer size, industry and facts. This summary reflects the sources shown as of the dates shown (legal sources checked October 15, 2026). Confirm requirements with the relevant agency or qualified counsel before acting.
With unemployment at 3.6%, most applicants are employed and applying in spare moments. Reply the same day, by text, with a direct link to book an interview. A long wait or a multi-step email chain hands the candidate to whoever answered first.
Virginia now requires a wage or salary range on every public and internal posting, and employers may not ask for pay history. Since many local medians run under national levels, a clearly stated range near or above the local median, such as $20.51 for customer service reps, can stand out. Put the range in the first line of the post, not buried at the bottom.
Services sales pay runs from $17.43 at the 10th percentile to $62.37 at the 90th, so candidates know a sales job can mean very different pay. Show the base, the posted range and how a typical rep moves from the low end to the high end. Vague phrases like uncapped earnings invite skepticism from people who already have a steady paycheck.
Professional and business services moved −2.1% and financial activities −1.3%. Build candidate segments for past contact-center, admin and branch applicants and reach out with roles where their skills transfer, such as customer service, scheduling or front-desk work.
Leisure and hospitality grew +2.2% and trade and transportation is the largest sector at 18.0%. Both hire in waves. Use saved templates, status-triggered texts and bulk moves so each wave runs the same way instead of starting from scratch.
In a market where most candidates already have a job, the employer who replies first and books fastest usually wins. ATS Mako's two-way texting with triggered automations lets you answer new applicants the moment they apply and send reminders without manual follow-up. Self-service interview booking with calendar sync lets candidates choose a slot right away, outside your office hours. For waves of hospitality or warehouse hiring, bulk actions let you message and move large groups of candidates at once, so each hiring push follows the same process.
Start with the wage table. Local medians include $16.14 for retail salespersons, $19.36 for laborers and material movers, and $16.44 for janitors and cleaners. Many of these run slightly under national medians, so pricing at or above the local median can help you stand out to employed candidates. Your posted range must also reflect what you actually intend to pay.
According to the rules summary on this page, Virginia employers must include the wage or salary range in every public and internal job posting and may not seek applicants' pay history. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm the details with the state agency or your counsel.
With unemployment at 3.6%, below the national 4.2%, most candidates are employed and have options. As a general practice, reply the same day and offer an interview slot they can book themselves. Delays of several days often mean the candidate has accepted elsewhere.
Yes, texting is a common and effective way to reach hourly candidates. Get clear opt-in consent before sending recruiting texts, identify your company in messages, and honor STOP or opt-out replies right away. Check your consent process with counsel, since this is general practice and not legal advice.
Per the rules summary, Virginia's ban-the-box laws apply to state agencies and local governments, not private employers, but employers may not require disclosure of expunged records and, for most employers, sealed records. Non-competes are banned for low-wage employees and licensed health care professionals. Confirm how these apply to your roles with counsel.
Trade, transportation, and utilities is the largest sector at 18.0% of jobs, followed by Professional and business services at 17.0%. Leisure and hospitality is the only top sector that grew over the year, at +2.2%, so competition for restaurant and hotel staff is rising.
Sources and data currency
Labor data as of August 2026; wage data May 2025; rules checked October 15, 2026. Next scheduled review: January 21, 2027. This page is educational market information for employers.
Text applicants, book interviews and run bulk hiring from one branded ATS. See plans or book a demo to walk through it.
30-day free trial · No setup fees · No long-term contracts
