Job & Income Trends | Cooper Center

March 3, 2026

Northern Virginia’s slowdown weighs on state economy

Virginia’s economy faces another slowdown and the loss of more jobs, Cooper Center researchers said, and Northern Virginia could once again play an outsized role in the downturn.

WTOP-Washington, D.C.

SB_Business_LEGO_Manufacturing_Virginia_Exterior_CourtesyLegoGroup_rp0226.jpg

February 10, 2026

The New Moneymakers

Millennial transplants are fueling Central Virginia's latest economic boom, according to the Cooper Center.

Richmond Magazine

January 7, 2026

Welcome to Mini-NOVA

Cooper Center demographer weighs in on changes in RVA.

Richmond Magazine

November 12, 2025

The Millennials Who Ditched Cities During the Pandemic Would Like a Word

As a result of Covid, many young people moved in search of more affordable lifestyles, according to Cooper Center data.

Dwell

November 10, 2025

How Remote Work Led to Big Cities’ Decline

Pandemic lockdowns have ignited the economies of small metro regions and rural areas, according to Cooper Center data.

City Journal

August 21, 2025

Virginia unemployment rate projected to rise in 2025, 2026

According to Cooper Center research, Virginia workers could be in even more trouble this year unless better policies are put in place.

Virginia Dogwood

August 13, 2025

Virginia's Economic Forecast, August 2025

Eric Scorsone,

João Ferreira,

Matthew Scheffel,

Terry Rephann

A quarterly economic forecast for the Commonwealth of Virginia, created by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

July 31, 2025

Rising unemployment, Trump cuts fuel uncertainty about Virginia economy

Weldon Cooper director and economist Eric Scorsone warns that if Virginia’s unemployment rate keeps rising it could strain state resources.

Virginia Dogwood

July 17, 2025

As federal job losses mount, Fairfax leaders sound alarm

Is Fairfax County - long the economic engine of the Northern Virginia and state economy - facing an "unemployment crisis?"

Richmond Times Dispatch

July 17, 2025

Visualizing Virginia's Commute

Sol Baik

Commuting patterns can reveal important information about communities, such as how people access jobs, how regions are linked economically, and where transportation and housing investments might be needed. To help illuminate commuting flows within Virginia and its 133 localities, we created the Virginia Commuting Patterns dashboard.