94-01-14 New U.Va. Center for Public Service Report Gives In-Depth Economic Profile of N.Va. Planning District

NEW U.VA. CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT GIVES
IN-DEPTH ECONOMIC PROFILE OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA PLANNING DISTRICT

     CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 14 -- New employment in Northern Virginia
accounted
for 43 percent of Virginia's job growth from 1980 to 1991.  And although the
region will feel the
effects of shrinking military spending, new job growth there is expected to
continue to outpace the
state's employment growth rate, according to an economic profile by the
University of Virginia's
Center for Public Service.
     The profile of the Northern Virginia Regional Planning District, in the
latest edition of the
center's "Virginia's Local Economies" series of occasional economic reports
on each of the state's
21 planning districts, shows that Northern Virginia created far more jobs
than any other planning
district in the state from 1980 to 1991 -- almost twice as many as Hampton
Roads, the next largest
in employment growth.
     The recent 1990-91 recession, however, has affected Northern Virginia
just as much as the
rest of the state, according to U.Va. economist John L. Knapp, director of
the studies.
     Among all regions of the state Northern Virginia has a frequent "number
1" ranking, Knapp
said.  Northern Virginia is first in population size, population density,
share of employment in
managerial and professional occupations, total personal income, median family
income, male and
female labor participation rates, median house value, tourist outlays,
average weekly wages, taxable
sales, and a host of other variables.   
     The planning district includes the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls
Church, Manassas, and
Manassas Park and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince
William.
     The study cites projections from a private forecasting firm that the
planning district will see
a 2.2 percent annual employment growth rate for the rest of the decade,
compared to the 1.5
percent rate projected for the state.
     Per capita personal income in the region, which currently tops all other
regions of the state
by a wide margin, is projected to rise at an 0.7 percent annual rate in
constant dollars, compared
to 1.1 percent for the state.
     The "Virginia's Local Economies" series includes updated comparative
data on all planning
districts and local government finances, as well as projections of
population, employment, income
and school enrollment, and additional information about each locality in a
region.  The series is
aimed at community planners, economic developers, business and government
officials, educators,
libraries and residents seeking local economic information.
     Cost is $12 per report, or $200 for the set of 21 reports.  For
additional information contact
the U.Va. Center for Public Service at (804) 982-5638.
                               ###
                                                 January 13, 1994
     EDITORS, REPORTERS:  John Knapp may be reached at the above number.

[Submitted by: Karen A. Castle  (kac@uva.pcmail.virginia.edu)
               Fri, 14 Jan 94 09:46:07 EST]