Virginia Healthcare Workforce Data Center

Updates from the Virginia Healthcare Workforce Data Center, a division of the Virginia Department of Health Professions www.dhp.virginia.gov

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Quarterly Change in Total Compensation per Employee in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance Sector

HWDC Releases June 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 3: Income & Compensation

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the June 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 3: Income & Compensation.

According to preliminary estimates, total earnings in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector increased by $342 million to $48.7 billion in Q1 2026. This increase in Virginia’s total HC&SA earnings represents a three-month annualized growth rate of 2.9%. This quarter’s increase in statewide HC&SA earnings was driven primarily by the growth in both forms of employee compensation. In particular, HC&SA employee benefits grew at a 3.9% annualized rate in Q1 2026, while HC&SA employee salaries & wages increased by 2.8% on an annualized basis during the quarter. At the same time, HC&SA proprietor’s income in the state grew at a 1.1% annualized rate in Q1 2026. With this gain, total earnings in Virginia’s HC&SA sector have increased by $962 million over the past two quarters, which translates into a 4.1% annualized growth rate. Furthermore, statewide HC&SA earnings have increased by $2.2 billion over the past four quarters, which translates into an even faster 4.8% growth rate.

Total employee compensation in Virginia’s HC&SA sector increased by $331 million to $44.9 billion in Q1 2026, a gain that represents a three-month annualized growth rate of 3.0%. This gain led to an increase of $949 in total compensation per employee in Virginia’s HC&SA sector. With this gain, the Healthcare Workforce Data Center now estimates that employees in Virginia’s HC&SA sector earn an average of $85,951 per year. In Q1 2026, total compensation per employee in Virginia’s HC&SA sector grew at a 4.5% annualized rate, which exceeds the comparable 4.2% average growth rate for the national HC&SA sector as a whole. Furthermore, statewide HC&SA compensation per employee has increased by $2,024 over the past two quarters, which translates into an even faster 4.9% annualized growth rate. This growth rate is well above the comparable 2.7% annualized growth rate in total compensation per employee in the national HC&SA sector. Likewise, the four-quarter growth rate of 3.4% in Virginia’s total HC&SA compensation per employee exceeds the comparable 2.6% national average.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Annual Change in HC&SA Regional Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted, Full-Year Change for 2021-2025, Year-to-Date Change for 2026)

HWDC Releases June 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the June 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment. Data in this Brief is not seasonally adjusted.

According to preliminary estimates, the Rest of Virginia enjoyed its largest Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) employment gain so far this year after creating 1,400 new jobs in May. This job gain in the Rest of Virginia’s HC&SA sector represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 12.5%. With this gain, the Rest of Virginia has now produced a total of 2,900 HC&SA jobs over the past three months, which translates into an 8.5% annualized employment growth rate. Meanwhile, Richmond’s HC&SA sector experienced its first monthly employment gain so far this year after creating 300 new jobs in May. This increase in Richmond’s HC&SA employment translates into a one-month annualized growth rate of 3.9%. On the other hand, Northern Virginia experienced its first decline in employment since January after losing 1,900 jobs in May, while Hampton Roads’ HC&SA sector saw employment fall by 100 during the month.

Nursing & Residential Care Facilities created 300 new jobs in May, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 4.4%. With this gain, Nursing & Residential Care Facilities have now increased employment in each of the past four months. In addition, Nursing & Residential Care Facilities are also currently enjoying the fastest long-term job growth in the state thanks to its 12-month employment growth rate of 1.2%. Meanwhile, Social Assistance also enjoyed positive employment growth in May thanks to the creation of 200 new jobs across the state during the month. This increase in Social Assistance employment translates into a one-month annualized growth rate of 3.0%. As for Ambulatory Health Care Services, this HC&SA subsector saw employment fall by 400 in May. Regardless, Ambulatory Health Care Services have still produced a total of 3,100 jobs so far this year. Finally, Hospitals also lost 400 jobs during the month.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Monthly Change in Employment in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance Sector, Seasonally Adjusted

HWDC Releases June 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the June 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment.

According to preliminary estimates, Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector experienced its first monthly decline in employment since February after losing 700 jobs in May, a decline that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of -1.6%. Despite this month’s decline in employment, Virginia’s HC&SA sector has still created a total of 2,700 jobs across the state over the past three months. This increase in the state’s HC&SA employment translates into a three-month annualized growth rate of 2.1%. Furthermore, Virginia’s HC&SA sector has increased employment by 0.4% over the past 12 months. Meanwhile, the national HC&SA sector produced 47,200 new jobs in May, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 2.4%. With this gain, the national HC&SA sector has now enjoyed three consecutive months of positive employment growth. Over those past three months, national HC&SA employment has increased by a total of 197,900. This three-month job gain translates into an even faster 3.4% annualized employment growth rate.

Virginia’s overall economy experienced its largest monthly decline in employment since February after losing 8,000 jobs across the state in May. This decline in Virginia’s total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of -2.2%. With this decline, Virginia’s overall economy has now seen employment fall in four out of the first five months of 2026. In total, the state’s total nonfarm payroll employment has fallen by 15,600 so far this year. Furthermore, Virginia’s overall economy has lost a total of 52,200 jobs over the past 12 months, which translates into a -1.2% employment growth rate. On the other hand, the overall national economy enjoyed its third consecutive month of positive employment growth after creating 172,000 new jobs across the country in May. This increase in national total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 1.3%. With this gain, the overall national economy has now produced a total of 569,000 jobs so far in 2026.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Annual Change in HC&SA Subsector Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted, Full-Year Change for 2021-2025, Year-to-Date Change for 2026)

HWDC Releases May 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the May 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment. Data in this Brief is not seasonally adjusted.

According to preliminary estimates, Northern Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector enjoyed its largest employment gain in one year after creating 1,200 new jobs in April. This increase in employment in Northern Virginia’s HC&SA sector represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 8.4%. With this gain, Northern Virginia has now increased employment by a total of 1,700 so far this year. Hampton Roads is currently the only other region in the state that enjoys positive year-to-date HC&SA employment growth: After having produced 300 jobs for the second consecutive month in April, Hampton Roads’ HC&SA sector has now increased employment by a total of 1,100 so far this year. Meanwhile, Richmond enjoyed even stronger HC&SA employment growth during the month. In April, Richmond’s HC&SA sector created 400 new jobs, which translates into a 5.3% annualized employment growth rate. On the other hand, the Rest of Virginia saw HC&SA employment fall by 500 during the month.

Most of this month’s HC&SA employment growth in Virginia occurred in Ambulatory Health Care Services, which created 2,400 new jobs across the state in April. This increase in Ambulatory Health Care Services employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 12.9%. In addition, this also represents the third consecutive month in which employment in Ambulatory Health Care Services has increased. In total, this HC&SA subsector has produced a total of 3,500 new jobs so far this year. None of Virginia’s three other HC&SA subsectors currently enjoy positive year-to-date employment growth. This is the case even with Nursing & Residential Care Facilities even though this HC&SA subsector produced 300 new jobs in April, which translates into a 4.5% annualized employment growth rate. Meanwhile, Social Assistance lost 1,200 jobs in April, and Hospitals saw employment decline by 100 during the month. Both of these HC&SA subsectors have now lost jobs in three out of the past four months.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Monthly Change in Employment in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance Sector, Seasonally Adjusted

HWDC Releases May 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the May 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment.

According to preliminary estimates, Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector created 800 new jobs across the state in April, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 1.8%. This also represents the second consecutive month in which employment in Virginia’s HC&SA sector has increased. With this gain, Virginia’s HC&SA sector has now produced a total of 1,300 jobs so far this year. Furthermore, Virginia’s HC&SA sector has added a total of 4,400 jobs to the state’s economy over the past 12 months, which translates into a 0.8% employment growth rate. In April, Virginia was responsible for 1.5% of the 53,900 HC&SA jobs that were created across the country during the month. This increase in national HC&SA employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 2.8%. So far this year, the national HC&SA sector has increased employment by 221,000.

Overall statewide employment growth in Virginia was driven entirely by employment gains in the state’s HC&SA sector as Virginia’s overall economy produced a total of 600 new jobs in April. This increase in the state’s total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 0.2%. With this gain, Virginia’s overall economy has now enjoyed two consecutive months of positive employment growth. Regardless, Virginia’s total nonfarm payroll employment has still fallen by 6,900 so far this year. In addition, employment in the state’s overall economy has contracted by 0.9% over the past 12 months. Meanwhile, the overall national economy created 115,000 new jobs in April. This increase in national total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 0.9%. So far this year, the overall national economy has created a total of 304,000 jobs across the country. 

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Annual Change in HC&SA Regional Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted, Full-Year Change for 2021-2025, Year-to-Date Change for 2026)

HWDC Releases April 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the April 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment. Data in this Brief is not seasonally adjusted.

According to preliminary estimates, three of Virginia’s four regions increased Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) employment in March. Richmond’s HC&SA sector enjoyed the fastest employment growth in March: This region created 200 new HC&SA jobs during the month, which translates into a 2.6% annualized employment growth rate. Likewise, both Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia also increased HC&SA employment by 200 in March. These job gains translate into a one-month annualized employment growth rates of 2.2% and 1.4%, respectively. In addition, these two regions also enjoyed positive employment growth during the first quarter of 2026. Hampton Roads created a total of 700 HC&SA jobs in Q1 2026, a gain that represents a three-month annualized employment growth rate of 2.6%. Over the same period, Northern Virginia’s HC&SA sector added a total of 500 jobs, which translates into a 1.1% employment growth rate. As for the Rest of Virginia, this region lost 300 HC&SA jobs in March.

Among Virginia’s four HC&SA subsectors, employment growth was fastest in Hospitals during the month of March. In fact, Hospitals enjoyed their largest employment gain in nine months after creating 400 new jobs across the state in March, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 4.1%. Despite this month’s job gain, Hospitals still lost a total of 300 jobs in Q1 2026. Likewise, both Social Assistance and Nursing & Residential Care Facilities also lost jobs in Q1 2026 despite increasing employment during the month. Social Assistance produced 200 new jobs in March, while Nursing & Residential Care Facilities increased employment by 100 during the month. Regardless, these two HC&SA subsectors lost 3,600 and 600 jobs, respectively, in Q1 2026. On the other hand, Ambulatory Health Care Services created a total of 600 jobs during the quarter despite seeing employment fall by 400 in March. This quarterly employment gain in Ambulatory Health Care Services translates into a 1.0% annualized growth rate.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Monthly Change in Employment in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance Sector, Seasonally Adjusted

HWDC Releases April 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the April 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment.

According to preliminary estimates, Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector enjoyed its strongest monthly employment gain so far this year after creating 1,700 new jobs across the state in March. This increase in Virginia’s HC&SA employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 4.0%. Despite this month’s strong job growth, Virginia’s HC&SA sector still experienced a small decline in employment in Q1 2026 with the loss of 100 jobs during the quarter. Regardless, HC&SA employment in the state has still grown by 1.0% over the past 12 months. Meanwhile, Virginia’s HC&SA sector was responsible for nearly 2% of the 89,900 HC&SA jobs that were produced across the country in March. This increase in national HC&SA employment translates into a 4.7% annualized growth rate. With this gain, the national HC&SA sector created a total of 169,000 jobs in Q1 2026, which translates into a 2.9% annualized employment growth rate.

One out of every four jobs that were created in Virginia during the month of March came from the state’s HC&SA sector as Virginia’s overall economy produced 6,900 new jobs across the state. This increase in Virginia’s total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 2.0%. In addition, this gain also represents the first monthly increase in Virginia’s total nonfarm payroll employment in four months. In total, Virginia’s overall economy lost 7,400 jobs in Q1 2026, a decline that represents a three-month annualized employment growth rate of -0.7%. Despite this lack of growth during the first quarter of 2026, Virginia’s job market grew faster than the national average in March as the overall national economy created 178,000 jobs during the month, which translates into a 1.4% annualized employment growth rate. In Q1 2026, the overall national economy produced a total of 205,000 jobs across the country. This three-month job gain translates into a 0.5% annualized employment growth rate.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Quarterly Change in Total Earnings in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance Sector

HWDC Releases March 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 3: Income & Compensation

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the March 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 3: Income & Compensation.

According to preliminary estimates, Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector saw total earnings increase by $654 million to $48.5 billion in Q4 2025. This increase in Virginia’s total HC&SA earnings represents a three-month annualized growth rate of 5.6%. Virginia’s HC&SA sector has enjoyed even faster earnings growth over the longer term. With this quarter’s gain, total earnings in Virginia’s HC&SA sector have increased by a total of $2.7 billion in 2025, a full-year gain that translates into an even higher 5.9% growth rate. This growth in the state’s total HC&SA earnings over the past year has been most pronounced with respect to HC&SA employee benefits. In 2025, HC&SA employee benefits in the state increased by 6.8%. Over the same period, employee salaries & wages in Virginia’s HC&SA sector grew by 5.8%, while HC&SA proprietor’s income in the state increased by a total of 4.8%.

Total employee compensation in Virginia’s HC&SA sector increased by $629 million to $44.6 billion in Q4 2025, a gain that represents a three-month annualized growth rate of 5.8%. This quarter’s gain led to an increase of $1,142 in total compensation per employee in the state’s HC&SA sector. With this gain, the Healthcare Workforce Data Center now estimates that employees in Virginia’s HC&SA sector earn an average of $85,172 per year. In Q4 2025, total compensation per employee in Virginia’s HC&SA sector grew at a 5.5% annualized rate. Over the same period, the national HC&SA sector saw total compensation per employee increase by $690, which translates into a 3.1% annualized growth rate. In 2025, total compensation per employee in Virginia’s HC&SA sector increased by a total of $3,277. This annual gain translates into a 4.0% growth rate, which exceeds the comparable 3.7% average growth rate for the national HC&SA sector.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Annual Change in HC&SA Subsector Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted, Full-Year Change for 2021-2025, Year-to-Date Change for 2026)

HWDC Releases March 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the March 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment. Data in this Brief is not seasonally adjusted.

According to preliminary estimates, Northern Virginia was the only region in the state that increased Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) employment during the month. In February, Northern Virginia’s HC&SA sector created 1,100 new jobs, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 7.8%. With this gain, Northern Virginia recovered all of its employment losses from January. In total, Northern Virginia’s HC&SA sector has created a total of 300 jobs so far this year. Hampton Roads has enjoyed even faster HC&SA employment growth in 2026 despite losing 500 jobs in February. Thanks to its strong employment growth in January, Hampton Roads’ HC&SA sector has produced a total of 500 new jobs so far this year. Furthermore, its 12-month HC&SA employment growth rate of 2.3% is the highest in the state. Meanwhile, the Rest of Virginia and Richmond lost 2,000 and 500 HC&SA jobs, respectively, during the month.

Ambulatory Health Care Services enjoyed very strong employment growth in February thanks to the creation of 2,100 new jobs across the state during the month. This increase in employment in Ambulatory Health Care Services represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 11.3%. Ambulatory Health Care Services are also currently enjoying the fastest long-term job growth in the state as shown by its 12-month employment growth rate of 1.8%. Meanwhile, Nursing & Residential Care Facilities also experienced positive employment growth during the month: In February, this HC&SA subsector created 200 new jobs, which translates into a 3.0% annualized employment growth rate. On the other hand, Social Assistance experienced its largest monthly decline in employment in nearly six years after losing 3,600 jobs in February, while Hospitals saw employment fall by 600 during the month. Regardless, Hospitals and Social Assistance have still increased employment by 1.0% and 0.4%, respectively, over the past 12 months.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Monthly Change in Employment in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance Sector, Seasonally Adjusted

HWDC Releases March 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the March 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment.

According to preliminary estimates, Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector experienced its first decline in employment in four months after losing 3,200 jobs across the state in February. This decline in the state’s HC&SA employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of -7.1%. In addition, this also represents the largest decline in employment in Virginia’s HC&SA sector in nearly four-and-a-half years. Despite this month’s decline, Virginia’s HC&SA sector has still produced a total of 6,100 jobs over the past 12 months, which translates into a 1.2% employment growth rate. Meanwhile, the national HC&SA sector saw employment fall by 27,800 in February, which represents a one-month annualized growth rate of -1.4%. With this job loss, the national HC&SA sector has experienced its first monthly decline in employment in more than four years. Regardless, the national HC&SA sector has still increased employment by 2.9% over the past 12 months.

Virginia’s HC&SA sector was responsible for one-third of the 9,600 jobs that were lost across the state in February. This decline in Virginia’s total non-farm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of -2.7%. With this decline, Virginia’s overall economy has now lost jobs in eight out of the past nine months. Over the past 12 months, employment in Virginia’s overall economy has fallen by 38,600. This decline translates into a -0.9% employment growth rate. Meanwhile, the overall national economy lost 133,000 jobs in February. This decline in national total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of -1.0%. The overall national economy has now lost jobs in five out of the past nine months. Regardless, the overall national economy has still managed to produce a modicum of long-term job growth: Over the past 12 months, national total nonfarm payroll employment has increased by 0.1%.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Annual Change in HC&SA Regional Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted, Full-Year Change for 2021-2025, Year-to-Date Change for 2026)

HWDC Releases February 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the February 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment. Data in this Brief is not seasonally adjusted.

According to preliminary estimates, Hampton Roads was the only region in the state that enjoyed positive Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) employment growth during the month. In January, Hampton Roads’ HC&SA sector created 1,000 new jobs, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 11.5%. In addition, this also represents the largest monthly employment gain in Hampton Roads’ HC&SA sector in two years. With this gain, Hampton Roads has now produced a total of 1,600 HC&SA jobs over the past three months, which translates into a 6.0% annualized employment growth rate. Furthermore, HC&SA employment in Hampton Roads has grown by 2.9% over the past 12 months. Conversely, the Rest of Virginia experienced its worst monthly decline in HC&SA employment in two years after this region lost 2,300 HC&SA jobs in January. At the same time, Northern Virginia’s HC&SA sector lost 400 jobs, while HC&SA employment in Richmond fell by 300 during the month.

In January, Hospitals were the only HC&SA subsector in the state that increased employment. In fact, Hospitals enjoyed their third consecutive month of positive employment growth after creating 200 new jobs across the state in January, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 2.0%. As for Social Assistance, this HC&SA subsector experienced its first monthly decline in employment since October 2025 after losing 300 jobs in January. Regardless, Social Assistance has still produced a total of 2,600 jobs over the past three months, which translates into a 12.9% annualized employment growth rate. In addition, employment in Social Assistance has grown by 3.7% over the past 12 months. Meanwhile, Ambulatory Health Care Services lost 1,000 jobs for the second consecutive month in January, and Nursing & Residential Care Facilities experienced its worst monthly decline in employment in four years after losing 900 jobs during the month.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Monthly Change in Employment in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance Sector, Seasonally Adjusted

HWDC Releases February 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the February 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment.

According to preliminary estimates, Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector created 1,600 new jobs across the state in January, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 3.7%. With this gain, Virginia’s HC&SA sector has now enjoyed three consecutive months of positive employment growth. Over those past three months, Virginia has created a total of 4,400 HC&SA jobs, which translates into a 3.4% annualized employment growth rate. In January, Virginia’s HC&SA sector was responsible for 1.5% of the 106,900 HC&SA jobs that were produced across the country during the month. This increase in national HC&SA employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 5.6%. In addition, this also represents the largest monthly job gain in the national HC&SA sector in two-and-a-half years. The national HC&SA sector has also enjoyed solid long-term employment growth as well: Over the past 12 months, national HC&SA employment has increased by 3.2%.

Virginia’s HC&SA sector was responsible for more than half of all statewide employment growth in January as Virginia’s overall economy created 2,900 new jobs across the state during the month. This increase in Virginia’s total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 0.8%. Although this month’s job gain was not large enough to recover all of the employment losses from December 2025, Virginia’s overall economy has still produced a total of 2,700 jobs statewide over the past three months, which translates into a 0.3% annualized employment growth rate. Meanwhile, the overall national economy enjoyed its largest monthly employment gain in more than one year after creating 160,000 new jobs in January. This increase in national total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 1.2%. With this gain, the overall national economy has now produced a total of 324,000 jobs over the past 12 months, which translates into a 0.2% employment growth rate.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Annual Change in HC&SA Subsector Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted, Full-Year Change for 2020-2025)

HWDC Releases January 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the January 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment. Data in this Brief is not seasonally adjusted.

According to preliminary estimates, two of Virginia’s four regions increased Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) employment in December. Northern Virginia’s HC&SA sector created 600 new jobs in December, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 4.1%. In 2025, Northern Virginia produced a total of 5,300 HC&SA jobs. This full-year employment gain represents 42% of all HC&SA jobs that were created across the state in 2025. Meanwhile, Richmond enjoyed even faster HC&SA employment growth during the month. In December, Richmond’s HC&SA sector created 400 new jobs, which translates into a 5.0% annualized employment growth rate. With this gain, Richmond’s HC&SA sector has added 2,800 jobs to the state’s economy in 2025. On the other hand, the Rest of Virginia lost 400 HC&SA jobs in December, while Hampton Roads’ HC&SA sector saw employment fall by 200 during the month. Regardless, these two regions still increased HC&SA employment by 2,700 and 1,800, respectively, in 2025.

Three of Virginia’s four HC&SA subsectors enjoyed positive employment growth in December. This growth was strongest in Social Assistance, which created 1,300 new jobs across the state during the month. This increase in Social Assistance employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 19.0%. Social Assistance is also enjoying the strongest long-term employment growth in the state as well. In 2025, this HC&SA subsector produced a total of 4,500 jobs, which translates into a 5.2% employment growth rate. Meanwhile, Nursing & Residential Care Facilities created 500 new jobs in December, which translates into a 7.5% annualized employment growth rate. With this gain, Nursing & Residential Care Facilities increased employment by a total of 2,200 in 2025. As for Hospitals, this HC&SA subsector produced 100 new jobs during the month. In total, Hospitals created 3,500 jobs during the past year. Finally, Ambulatory Health Care Services lost 1,500 jobs in December. Despite this month’s decline, however, this HC&SA subsector still increased employment by 2,400 in 2025.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Monthly Change in Employment in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance Sector, Seasonally Adjusted

HWDC Releases January 2026 Health Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the January 2026 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment.

According to preliminary estimates, Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector created 800 new jobs in December, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 1.8%. In addition, this also represents the largest monthly employment gain in Virginia’s HC&SA sector since August. With this gain, Virginia’s HC&SA sector has produced a total of 12,600 jobs in 2025. This full-year increase in the state’s HC&SA employment translates into a 2.4% growth rate. In December, Virginia’s HC&SA sector was responsible for 2.1% of the 38,500 HC&SA jobs that were created across the country during the month. This increase in national HC&SA employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 2.0%. In total, the national HC&SA sector created 712,600 jobs across the country in 2025, which represents a 12-month employment growth rate of 3.1%. Virginia’s HC&SA sector was responsible for 1.8% of this full-year employment gain.

Virginia’s overall economy lost 4,100 jobs in December. This decline in the state’s total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of -1.1%. This also represents the third time in the past four months in which employment in Virginia’s overall economy has declined. Due to these job losses over the past several months, Virginia’s overall economy experienced a full-year decline in employment for the first time since 2020. In total, Virginia’s overall economy lost 11,700 jobs in 2025, which translates into a -0.3% employment growth rate. Meanwhile, the overall national economy produced 50,000 new jobs across the country during the month. This increase in national total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 0.4%. In 2025, the overall national economy created a total of 584,000 jobs, which also translates into a 0.4% employment growth rate.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Quarterly Change in Total Compensation per Employee in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance Sector

HWDC Releases December 2025 Health Workforce Brief Series 3: Income & Compensation

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the December 2025 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 3: Income & Compensation.

According to preliminary estimates, total earnings in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector increased by $705 million to $47.8 billion in Q3 2025. This increase in the state’s total HC&SA earnings represents a three-month annualized growth rate of 6.1%. This growth rate exceeds the comparable 4.7% average growth rate for the national HC&SA sector as a whole. This quarter’s growth in total statewide HC&SA earnings was driven primarily by gains in employee benefits and proprietor’s income. In Q3 2025, HC&SA employee benefits grew at a 9.6% annualized rate, while HC&SA proprietor’s income increased by 9.3% on an annualized basis. Meanwhile, HC&SA employee salaries & wages increased at a 5.2% annualized rate during the quarter. With this quarter’s gain, total earnings in Virginia’s HC&SA sector have now increased by a total of $2.0 billion so far this year, which translates into a 6.0% growth rate.

In Q3 2025, total employee compensation in Virginia’s HC&SA sector increased by $621 million to $44.0 billion. This increase in total statewide HC&SA employee compensation represents a three-month annualized growth rate of 5.9%. This gain led to an increase of $274 in total compensation per employee in Virginia’s HC&SA sector. With this gain, the Healthcare Workforce Data Center now estimates that employees in Virginia’s HC&SA sector earn an average of $82,747 per year. This quarter’s increase in total compensation per employee in Virginia’s HC&SA sector translates into a 1.3% annualized growth rate. During the same period, the national HC&SA sector saw total compensation per employee increase by $308, which represents a three-month annualized growth rate of 1.4%. Over the past four quarters, total compensation per employee in Virginia’s HC&SA sector has increased by a total of $1,427. This increase in the state’s total HC&SA compensation per employee translates into a 1.8% growth rate.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Annual Change in HC&SA Regional Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted, Full-Year Change for 2020-2024, Year-to-Date Change for 2025)

HWDC Releases December 2025 Health Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the December 2025 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 2: Regional and Sectoral Employment. Data in this Brief is not seasonally adjusted.

According to preliminary estimates, employment in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector increased in every region of the state for the fourth time in the past five months. Richmond enjoyed the strongest HC&SA employment growth in the state during the month. In November, this region created 600 new HC&SA jobs, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 7.6%. Furthermore, Richmond is also enjoying the fastest long-term HC&SA job growth in the state thanks to its current 12-month employment growth rate of 3.7%. Meanwhile, Northern Virginia’s HC&SA sector also created 600 new jobs in November, which translates into a 4.1% annualized employment growth rate. With this gain, Northern Virginia has now increased HC&SA employment by 5,300 so far this year. As for Hampton Roads, this region produced 400 new HC&SA jobs in November, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 4.5%. Finally, the Rest of Virginia added 100 HC&SA jobs during the month, which translates into a 0.8% annualized growth rate.

With respect to Virginia’s HC&SA subsectors, both Social Assistance and Ambulatory Health Care Services enjoyed strong employment gains for the second consecutive month. Social Assistance produced 800 jobs in November, a gain that represents a one-month annualized employment growth rate of 11.4%. Social Assistance has also enjoyed rapid long-term employment growth as well thanks to its 12-month employment growth rate of 4.9%. Like Social Assistance, Ambulatory Health Care Services also created 800 jobs during the month. November’s job gain in Ambulatory Health Care Services translates into a 4.1% annualized employment growth rate. In addition, Ambulatory Health Care Services currently have the highest three-month annualized employment growth rate in the state at 2.2%. Hospitals also made a positive contribution to this month’s statewide HC&SA employment growth thanks to the creation of 100 new HC&SA jobs in this subsector during the month, a gain that translates into a 1.0% annualized employment growth rate. As for Nursing & Residential Care Facilities, this HC&SA subsector experienced no net change in employment during the month. 

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.

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Monthly Change in Employment in Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance Sector, Seasonally Adjusted

HWDC Releases December 2025 Health Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment

The Department of Health Professions' Healthcare Workforce Data Center has released the December 2025 issue of its Virginia Health Care Workforce Brief Series 1: State and National Employment.

According to preliminary estimates, Virginia’s Health Care & Social Assistance (HC&SA) sector enjoyed its first monthly employment gain since August after creating 1,500 new jobs across the state in November. This increase in Virginia’s HC&SA employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 3.4%. Although HC&SA employment in Virginia has fallen at a 0.5% annualized rate over the past three months, long-term HC&SA job growth in the state remains strong: Over the past 12 months, Virginia’s HC&SA sector has created a total of 17,700 jobs, which translates into a 3.4% growth rate. Virginia’s HC&SA sector was responsible for 2.3% of the 64,000 HC&SA jobs that were created across the country in November. This increase in national HC&SA employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 3.3%. With this gain, the national HC&SA sector has produced a total of 770,500 jobs over the past 12 months, which translates into a 3.4% employment growth rate.

Meanwhile, Virginia’s overall economy created 8,600 new jobs in November. This increase in the state’s total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 2.4%. With this gain, Virginia’s overall economy has recovered more than 40% of the jobs that were lost across the state in October. In total, Virginia’s overall economy has increased employment in the state by 8,400 over the past 12 months, which translates into a 0.2% growth rate. In November, Virginia’s overall economy was responsible for more than one eighth of all nationwide employment growth as the overall national economy produced 64,000 new jobs across the country during the month. This increase in national total nonfarm payroll employment represents a one-month annualized growth rate of 0.5%. With this gain, the overall national economy has produced a total of 933,000 jobs across the country over the past 12 months, a gain that translates into a 0.6% employment growth rate.

To access the full brief, click the link above. To see all Virginia Health Care Workforce Briefs and to access archival briefs, visit our website.