Virginia, Maryland unemployment rates tick up; Maryland still lowest in nation

Unemployment rates inched higher in 15 states in December, including Virginia and Maryland, but both remain relatively low. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Virginia’s unemployment rate last month was 3.0%, up from 2.9% in November. Maryland’s unemployment rate rose from 1.8% to 1.9% last month. Maryland had maintained the title of state with the lowest unemployment rate throughout the fall of 2023, though in December it shared the title with North Dakota, whose unemployment rate was also 1.9%.