News

Alexandria’s initial unemployment claims rise, continued claims drop

By James Cullum

Alexandria’s initial (first time) unemployment claims rose slightly, and continued claims fell June 26, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.

For the week ending June 26, there were 142 initial (first-time) claims, up slightly from the previous week’s 135 claims. There were also 977 continued claims, which was a reduction from the 1,054 claims from the previous week.

Alexandria’s 98,250 person civilian labor force is roughly the same in number as it was this time last year. As of May 2021, Alexandria’s unemployment rate was 3.9%, with 3,814 residents filing claims. The city’s unemployment rate in 2020 was 8.1%, with 7,950 residents getting unemployment payments.

Looking for work? The Alexandria Workforce Development Center hosts weekly workshops, and there are a number of job openings with the city.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.