Although the economy continues to decline in almost every corner of the nation, those looking for a career in Virginia recently got some good news.

According to an article by Southern Business and Development Magazine, the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor statistics ranked Virginia Beach as the top market in the country for job growth between October 2007 and 2008. Virginia Beach saw 17,000 jobs created during that time, an increase of 2.2 percent.

The Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News area had an unemployment rate of 5.3 percent during December 2008, according to the BLS. This is up from 4.8 percent during November 2008, but lower than the national unemployment rate of 7.2 percent.

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VA environmental jobs are crucial to the state’s economy.

According to a study by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, which was presented at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention at The Homestead, Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries have a $79 billion impact on the state’s economy. The two industries alone create about 501,500 jobs, or 10.3 percent of the state’s employment.

While the industries play an important role in Virginia’s economy, experts say there are favorable and unfavorable aspects to each industry, and the general public is drifting further away from both industries. According to an article by The News Virginian, the state can do more with its agriculture and forestry industries. One idea is that state farmers should diversify into farmers markets, agritourism, wineries, hay rides, pumpkin patches and pick-your-own places.

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The construction of a nuclear power plant will create new Virginia jobs.

The French nuclear-support firm Areva and Northrop Grumman Newport News are teaming up to build a plant that makes components for holding nuclear plants’ dangerous and useful fuel. Creation of the plant is expected to create 540 jobs in Virginia.

Gov. Tim Kaine praised the $363.4 million project as “a positive step toward reducing greenhouse gases and reducing our dependence on foreign oil,” according to an article by The Free Lance-Star.

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Medical jobs in Virginia are continuing to grow.

As of August 2008, Virginia’s education and health services industry employed 431,200 workers, an increase of 2.5 percent from last year, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This industry has seen an over-the-year increase every month this year, by 2.4 percent in March, by 2.3 percent in April, by 2.4 percent in May, by 2.7 percent in June, by 2.7 percent in July and by 2.5 percent in August.

According to the Virginia Workforce Connection, there were 344,320 jobs in Virginia’s healthcare and social services industry in 2006, and is projected to employ 451,823 workers by 2016. This represents an increase of 107,503 jobs, a growth of 2.75 percent annually or 31.2 percent total.

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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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