The U.S. lost 92,000 jobs in February but Hampton Roads may not feel a big impact

“Hardworking Americans are finding that a comfortable, affordable life is increasingly out of reach.  The cost of health care, groceries, child care, student loans, and rent continues to rise, while workers are being left behind.  According to a new report from Vanguard [wsj.com], a record number of Americans are raiding their 401(k) savings to cover their living expenses.

While working families fight to stay afloat, the Trump Administration’s economic policies are funneling money into the pockets of the wealthy.  The top 10 percent of Americans accounted for a record 49.2 percent [thestreet.com] of all spending in 2025, while the rest of America is being forced to cut back.  Regrettably, the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans have only deepened this divide by driving up health care costs to provide tax cuts for the wealthy in their ‘Big, Ugly Bill.’

The total number of jobs created in President Trump’s first year since returning to office was only 290,000 — a number the Biden Administration exceeded on average in a single month during his term in office.  In fact, since President Trump returned to office, there has not been a single month in which the economy created as many jobs as President Biden’s average monthly job performance of 321,000 jobs.

This is not the kind of economic performance working families were promised.  During President Trump’s most recent State of the Union he repeatedly bragged about the strength of the economy.  The truth is, this is the fifth month of job loss since President Trump returned to office.

The American people deserve a government that prioritizes everyone— not just the wealthy few.  Our economy is only strong when workers are strong.  Democrats will continue to fight for policies that put working people first, create good jobs, and lower everyday costs for all Americans.”

“It’s always disappointing to see a decrease in job numbers, but we also must recognize the natural variability that comes with assessing employment data on a monthly basis. Over the past 12 months, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 392,000 new private sector jobs with weekly earnings increasing by over 4% for American workers. I also understand that many Americans are still struggling with the cost of living and the economic challenges left behind by the Biden administration. I’m proud of the work my colleagues and I did to pass the Working Families Tax Cut, which was signed into law just eight months ago. Since then, mortgage rates have declined, bringing the American dream of home ownership closer within reach for many families, and hard-working Virginians will feel meaningful relief when filing their taxes this April. I will never stop fighting for policies that strengthen our economy, support working families, and make Virginia’s Second District the best place to work, live, and raise a family.”

“Today’s job numbers are a reminder that economic uncertainty is not going away any time soon. Across the Commonwealth, I’ve heard from working Virginians, small business owners, and industry leaders about the need for stability.

I am focused on growing Virginia’s economy, attracting new business investment, and creating good-paying jobs right here at home. Over the last two months, I’ve announced $575 million in new business investment in Virginia that will create nearly 2,000 new jobs in our Commonwealth.

I will continue to make clear to companies that Virginia is the very best place to start or grow their operations — and I will always work to maintain a stable, predictable business climate for Virginia’s employers, employees, and communities.”