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Job growth in 2006 Date published: 3/7/2007
BY KAFIA HOSH Northern Virginia's burgeoning economy fueled the state's job growth rate in 2006, according to figures released yesterday by the Virginia Employment Commission. Northern Virginia has always been a driving force of the labor market, said William F. Mezger, chief economist for the VEC in Richmond. The region added 30,500 jobs for a 2.4 percent increase in employment. The VEC considers Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford and Spotsylvania as part of Northern Virginia. Statewide, the professional and business fields experienced the largest industry growth in 2006. The professional sector added 21,300 new jobs, or a 3.5 percent increase. Government employment, mostly from public school systems and state universities, grew by 12,300 jobs, or 1.9 percent. "In a lot of rural counties, the school system is the largest single employer," Mezger said. Construction work also boasted employment increases, despite a sharp decline in home building. Construction jobs were up 2.4 percent, adding 5,800 positions largely due to commercial building and last-minute preparation for the 2007 Jamestown Anniversary celebration. Health care, hospitality, insurance, real estate and retail sectors also experienced workforce growth. But, other industries averaged lower employment levels in 2006. Transportation, warehousing and utilities employment lost 1,600 jobs, down 1.3 percent from 2005. The decrease in transportation jobs is largely due to the struggling airline industry, which downsized its labor force, Mezger said. The information industry, which includes telecommunication jobs, also experienced employment declines. Mezger blamed fierce competition between major cellular carriers that resulted caused staff cutbacks at some companies. "They're still going through a bit of a shakeup," he said. Overall, the state boasted a 1.7 percent employment growth rate in 2006, adding 61,800 new jobs to the labor market. The national average was 1.9 percent. Kafia Hosh: 540/735-1977
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