Arlington’s Democratic leadership at the state and federal levels has ammunition from new data that shows an increase of Virginia’s unemployment claims.
Rep. Don Beyer, D-8, seized on the figures released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday. The data showed that Virginia had been the only state that recorded a statistically significant rise in its unemployment rate between May and June.
In June, about 160,000 Virginians looked for work. This resulted in a seasonal adjusted unemployment rate (or 3.5%) — up from the 3.4% of a month earlier.
Beyer stated in a statement that “it is a certainty” that the Trump administration is responsible for this rise.
He said that there would be more to come.
Trump’s mass firings are hurting Virginia’s economy and the services Virginians rely on. Many of these cuts have not yet been reflected in the statistics. I am afraid that it will get worse, as the number purged workers increases and the economic damage is spread to other sectors in our economy.
This issue will likely play out when Republican Winsome-Sears tries to succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). Democrats are trying to elect Rep. Abigail Spanberger in order to regain their lost governorship from 2021.
The Youngkin Administration acknowledged the higher rate of unemployment, but stated that it should be placed in a wider context.
In a statement that accompanied the June unemployment figures, the Governor stated, “We do expect to see push and pull in the jobs market over the next few month as some areas of federal government reduce employment while others grow. Like the defense sector and broader private sectors.”
Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura echoed the governor’s call to look past month-to-month fluctuations.
Segura stated that “short-term changes in employment statistics do not change our mission long-term.” “We are building a more resilient, stronger economy for everyone.”
Youngkin said that there are an estimated 200,000 jobs openings in the Commonwealth, and 80,000 expected new jobs due to business investment. “These will provide opportunities for those people who have been job-displaced.”
Matthew Hurtt echoed these comments. He is the chair of the Arlington County Republican Committee.
He told ARLnow that “there is no single-size-fits all federal government solution” to the changing employment dynamics in Northern Virginia.
Hurtt said that the county’s Democrat-elected officials should push for innovative solutions.
He said: “Arlington’s political leaders refuses to imagine an economic reality in which the federal government has a diminished role in our community.”
According to preliminary data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois and Maine saw a decrease in their monthly unemployment rates for June. The other 47 states did not see statistically significant differences in unemployment month-overmonth. However, rounding may have caused some unemployment rates to tick up or slightly down.
Following Governor Youngkin’s push for a more diverse economy not so dependent on the Federal Government. Republicans drive to create more jobs based on investments from corporations rather than investments from the federal government.
This seems to be a winning recipe.
