"Virginia experienced an acceleration in Total Nonfarm Employment growth in the latter part of the 2nd quarter of 2017. Although the state continued to trail the national average for year-over-year employment growth in the first two months of the quarter, in June it pulled even with the national trend for the first time since May 2016. Much of that uptick was driven by Virginia’s above average performance in Education and Health Services; Financial Activities; Leisure and Hospitality; Transportation and Utilities; and Wholesale Trade. In addition, yearover-year employment growth in Virginia’s largest employment sector – Professional and Business Services – pulled even with the national trend in May 2017 for the first time since May 2016. However, below average performance in four sectors – Construction; Information; Retail Trade; and Total Government – is placing downward pressure on Virginia’s overall employment trajectory." See our second quarter report for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.