94-03-23 New U.Va. Center for Public Service Report Gives In-Depth Economic Profile of Thomas Jefferson Planning District

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

       CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 23 -- Employment in the
Charlottesville area grew grew faster than the national average but
somewhat slower that the state as a whole between 1980 and 1991,
according to an economic profile by the University of Virginia's
Center for Public Service.
       The profile of the Thomas Jefferson 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 the average annual
employment growth rate in the district was 2.8 percent over the
period, compared to 2.2 percent for the nation and 3.2 percent for
the state.
       Government, accounting for more than 25 percent of total
employment here in 1991, remains the largest employment sector,
according to U.Va. economist John L. Knapp, director of the
studies.  State and local government is responsible for most of
that, claiming almost 23 percent of total employment.  Although
this represents a decline of 2.8 percentage points since 1980,
state and local government's share of total employment was still
the largest of any of the planning districts and was more than
twice the state average of 10.8 percent for state and local
government's share.
       The major government employer in the district is the
University of Virginia, which had approximately 10,100 full- and
part-time salaried employees in 1992.  As might be expected, given
the presence of U.Va. and large manufacturing concerns, managerial
and specialty occupations have relatively large shares in
Charlottesville and Albemarle County.  The planning district as a
whole ranked behind only Northern Virginia in percentage of
employees in managerial and professional positions.
       The planning district includes Charlottesville and the
counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson.
       The study cites projections from a private forecasting firm
that the planning district will see a 1.8 percent annual employment
growth rate for the decade of the 1990s, compared to the 1.5
percent rate projected for the state.
       Real per capita personal income in the region is projected to
rise at 0.9 percent annual rate, 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.
                                            ###
                                                                           
March 22, 1994
       EDITORS, REPORTERS:  John Knapp may be reached at the above
number.

[Submitted by: Karen A. Castle  (kac@uva.pcmail.virginia.edu)
               Wed, 23 Mar 94 09:18:44 EST]