One of the few states that didn’t see an increase in unemployment during April, jobs in Virginia are continuing to hold their own.

During April, the State of Virginia saw its unemployment rate come in at 6.8 percent, even with the March unemployment rate and lower than the national unemployment rate of 8.9 percent. The state had a total non-farm employment of 3,669,000 workers during April, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 3,673,100 workers during March and a 2.7 percent decrease from last year.

As has been the case in most places during the last few months, the construction industry took the biggest hit. The industry employed 194,100 workers during April, down from 197,600 workers during March and a 14.4 percent decrease from last year.

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One company is upgrading much of its equipment in an effort to maintain several Virginia manufacturing jobs.

It was recently announced that Owens-Illinois, Inc. will invest $20 million to upgrade equipment at its manufacturing plant in James City County. The upgrades, made possible through a public-private collaboration, will enhance the energy efficiency and technological capabilities of the plant, as well as maintain the plant’s 180 employees. Owens-Illinois manufactures glass containers for food, beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages.

“O-I is seizing the opportunity to make the James City County plant stronger and more competitive, which will help keep quality manufacturing jobs in James City County,” Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said in a press release. “Together, we are working to keep jobs in the region and the Commonwealth during this challenging economic time. As the largest manufacturer of glass containers in the world, Virginia is proud to boast this corporate partner.”

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A new set of funding will include training for those with Virginia careers.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced he has recommended more than $2.7 million in Appalachian Regional Commission funding for 17 projects in Southwest Virginia. The projects will address economic development, early childhood education, health programs, job training and water quality.

“The programs funded through these grants will address a variety of important community needs in Southwest Virginia,” Kaine said in a press release. “The work of the ARC is critical to the quality of life of citizens in Appalachia and I am happy to recommend these projects for funding.”

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A local plant’s investments will soon create new Virginia manufacturing jobs.

SPARTA Composite Products is planning to invest $13.2 million to open a new manufacturing facility in Suffolk, Va., a move that will create 198 jobs during the next five years. Gov. Tim Kaine approved a $300,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund for the project. The facility will be used to manufacture composite parts for the aerospace and defense industry.

The facility is expected to be operation by December and will begin hiring workers during the third quarter of 2009, according to an article by the Star Exponent. SPARTA already operates three facilities in Virginia, where the company produces composite products for aircraft and missile and munitions products for the defense industry.

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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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