The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce released a study Aug. 31 showing overall job growth in the Charlottesville region over the past 10 years. According to the study, there was an almost 18.9 percent increase in Charlottesville area jobs from 1995 to 2004.
"It's not a prescription, it's just a compilation of 10-years worth of data," Chamber President Tim Hulbert said. "You have to know these numbers before we start a regimen."
The key to a successful economy is diversity, according to Hulbert.
"We believe very much that jobs are key and central to a vibrant economy and there needs to be diversity in that," Hulbert said. "The economy is a collection of individual economic actions, and the more diverse those actions, the more vibrant an economy is."
City Council members said they are also aware of the growth.
"It is not surprising to be seeing the growth," Vice Mayor Kevin Lynch said. "We do have a vibrant economy and the University contributes to that."
The area includes the City of Charlottesville and the surrounding Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties.
Albemarle County is the overall leader in job growth, according to the study.
Council has observed growth in specific fields and contributes to the programs, according to Lynch.
Lynch said biotechnology and medical science are two booming fields.
Council has been adding training programs in those areas, and Piedmont Virginia Community College has been sponsoring training programs, Lynch added.
"We're really excited about the small businesses that are either growing or expanding," Mayor David Brown said. "A lot of it is the spin-off from the University of Virginia."
Brown said Council doesn't have much to do with large corporations.
"I'm happy with the small business growth, the restaurant industry," Brown said. "These are the jobs that generate not only jobs but good jobs."
Brown said he wants Council to work harder in preparing workers for the increasing jobs.
"What we have to do a better job of is training our workforce to be prepared for those jobs," Brown said. "We already have partnerships with PVCC and University of Virginia trying to meet specific skill needs."
Lynch said while he appreciates seeing evidence of job growth, people can't focus only on the published statistics.
"We need to be focusing on what's right now," Lynch said.
The numbers from the study are actually numbers from two years ago, Lynch said.
"Last year the Chamber of Commerce put out a study that said everyone in Charlottesville was losing jobs," he said. "Even the data we are looking at now is old."
Lynch said he wants to stress that the data from the recent study is not current.
"It is most important to look at current data," Lynch said. "This is a great report for us, but I don't take these reports too seriously."
The Charlottesville economy has seen growth, but Lynch said he will continue focusing on the present.
"I want to keep focused on where we are right now," Lynch said.
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