Job growth in the area is not up to par, according to a study conducted by a local agency.
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce recently completed a 10-year study of the region including the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Nelson and Louisa Counties. The study concluded that while the overall number of jobs in the greater Charlottesville region increased between 1993 and 2003, the area has fallen short in private sector growth, which includes higher-paying jobs.
"The study showed that indeed some jobs were growing, but some are not," said Timothy Huleert, Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce president. "It is a healthy dose of factual reality to add to the public discourse."
The study shows that there was a net increase of 13,880 jobs in the Charlottesville region between 1994 and 2003 but that there was a loss of 1,057 private sector jobs between 2000 and 2003.
"When comparing those numbers to job performance in the rest of the Commonwealth, overall we've mirrored job growth," Huleert said. "However, we have never performed at the rate of the Commonwealth in creating and sustaining private sector jobs. The rest of the Commonwealth has outperformed Charlottesville."
Had the Charlottesville area private sector kept pace with the rest of the Commonwealth, the region's earning power would be $37 million greater, Huleert said.
"That is $37 million that's not buying groceries, not going to the movies, not going to Sunday collections at church," Huleert said.
A loss of regional manufacturing jobs is responsible for the decrease in the area's private sector employment, Huleert said.
While the private sector numbers present a "troublesome trend," government jobs and University employment are a bright spot in the region, Huleert said.
The University, a government entity, is the region's largest employer. The study found that the number of government jobs in the region have risen in the last 10 years.
The study highlights potential for improvement.
"It is important that this community understands that when it comes to private enterprise we have a lot of work to do," Huleert said.
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