Chamber Releases "Chamber Jobs Report" -- 10-Year Study of Region Shows Overall Job Growth, But Decline in Business Jobs Since 2000

(Charlottesville, Virginia -September 1) The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce today -in advance of the Labor Day weekend - released its "Chamber Jobs Report," a comprehensive 10-year compilation and analysis of employment in the Greater Charlottesville region which shows job growth overall but a decline of jobs in private enterprise since 2000.

"The Chamber Jobs Report, Report & Analysis: Employment in the Greater Charlottesville Region, 1994-2003" was released by Chamber officials today. The study project, begun earlier this year for the Chamber Government Affairs Committee, was conducted by Kevin Decker, of Decker Economics, an independent economist using the official employment database of the Virginia Employment Commission. The Chamber Jobs Report was underwritten by three Chamber member enterprises -Adams & Garth Staffing, Appraisal Group, Inc. and MoneyWise Payroll Solutions. Chamber President & Chief Executive Timothy Hulbert coordinated the project.

"Our community's economic vitality and job-base is a central, continuing focus of our Chamber," said Ivo Romenesko, Appraisal Group President, who serves as 2004 Chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors. "We offer this Report as a service to our Chamber members and our community. Hopefully, it will energize discussions in business and civic groups -and in public policy about -job creation, job retention, job enhancement as well as job loss within our region."

The Chamber Jobs Report showed that total jobs in the Greater Charlottesville grew from 79,889 jobs in 1994 to 93,769 jobs in 2003, an overall increase of 17.4% or 13,880 jobs -a healthy job-producing and sustaining rate. However, the Report reveals a troublesome trend: jobs in private enterprise, which grew between 1994-2000, have decreased each year since -from 67,193 in 2000 to 66,136 in 2003 -a net decrease of 1,057 private sector jobs (-1.6%).

The Report showed that overall job growth (17.4% -public and private) "compares favorably" with of the rest of Virginia (15.9%) throughout the period in large part due to the presence of the University of Virginia, the region's largest employer, public or private and other growing public employers. However, the Report reveals that private enterprise employment in the Greater Charlottesville Region (15.6%) has not kept pace with the rest of Virginia (17.9%) over the entire 10-year period, a concern for Chamber officials and others.

"It is vitally important that we make sure that our region can sustain and enhance private enterprise jobs," added Steven W. Blaine, of LeClair-Ryan, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Chamber Board for Economic Vitality. "Had our region performed at only the average rate for the rest of Virginia over the past decade, there would be more than 1,300 additional private sector jobs here today, with an estimated earning power of more than $37 million a year."

"This Chamber Jobs Report sends a number of clear messages," added Christopher Lee, of R. E. Lee & Son, who serves as Chairman of the Chamber Government Affairs Committee. "At the top of the list are two questions: Are we doing enough as a region to welcome and sustain private enterprise? What can we do to strengthen and diversify our regional economy and assure the quality of life for a broader range of our fellow citizens?"

The Chamber Jobs Report also showed:

Private enterprise job losses throughout the 10-year period in Agriculture, Mining & Utilities and in Manufacturing, including a net loss of 2,295 manufacturing jobs between 2000 and 2003, (1,646 in Albemarle Co.);

Private enterprise job gains in Transportation & Information between 1994-2000 (27.1%) followed by job losses in the same sector between 2000-2003 (-12.4%);

Government job gains throughout the 10-year period in local, state and federal government; and,

Government is the largest employing sector in the region (27,633 jobs, 29.5% of the total employment); private enterprise sectors with the highest employment in the region are: Arts, Lodging, Food & other services (12,709 jobs, 13.6%); Wholesale & Retail Trade (12,236 jobs, 13%); Professional, Technical & Administrative Services (9,365 jobs, 9.9%); and, Educational & Health Care Services (8,918 jobs, 9.5%).

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The Chamber Jobs Report, Appendix II showing regional job data, and color images of important graphs fromn the The Chamber Jobs Report are available below:

Chamber Jobs Report

Appendix II

Chamber Jobs Report Graphs