Despite the declining economy and rising price of oil, many people are still traveling, keeping Virginia tourism jobs afloat.

During 2007, Virginia’s tourism industry created 4,957 jobs and generated $85 million in wages and salaries. Local property and sales taxes created an income of $15 million, according to an article by WCAV.

The Virginia Tourism Corporation released the 2007 statewide tourism economic impact figures at its recent tourism conference, followed by local statistics. Virginia receives its annual economic impact data from the Travel Industry Association of America.

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A manufacturing company will create more than 100 new Virginia manufacturing jobs.

Metal Manufacturing and Processing, a division of Raleigh Mine & Industrial Supply Inc., is investing $3.2 million to open a processing facility for metal fabrication and truck parts re-manufacturing. The project is expected to create 171 new jobs in Tazewell County, Va. within five years, according to a press release from the State of Virginia. The state won a bid for the project over Kentucky and West Virginia.

“Metal Manufacturing and Processing is a mining equipment company that was created to meet the growing demand for mineral extraction,” Governor Timothy M. Kaine said in the press release. “MMP’s location in Tazewell County will be close to its customer base and will aid the mining industry in Southwest Virginia. I am confident the company will find a skilled workforce in the area to meet its needs.”

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With the state’s educational system being one of the best in the country, job seekers should take note that Virginia teaching jobs are on the rise.

According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, 428,500 people were employed in Virginia’s education and health services industry in June 2008, a 2.5 percent increase over the previous year.

The Virginia Workforce Connection notes 314,945 people were employed in the educational services industry in 2004, and that number is expected to grow to 375,059 by 2014, a 19.1 percent increase.

While public schools are run by the cities and counties and not the state, all schools must adhere to educational standards set by the Virginia Department of Education, which maintains a program known as the Standards of Learning. There are 1,863 schools in the state, as well as 104 alternative and special education centers in 134 school divisions. Aside from public schools, Virginia is home to Governor’s Schools, magnet schools and the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

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