Prince William County, Va. - When it comes to employment opportunities, Prince William may provide one of the best atmospheres, according to labor data that compared the county's job growth with state, regional and national statistics.
That's the good news for the last five years, states a first-quarter economic and demographic report from the county, which covers the period between October and December 2009. But in terms of last year's growth in the county, as it compares to other jurisdictions, the numbers aren't so stellar.
While job growth occurred at a rate of 22 percent in the county between 2004 and late 2009, the county only saw a 1.9 percent gain in this category between third quarter 2008 and third quarter 2009, according to the report.
The 1.9 percent is still higher than those touted by the Northern Virginia region and state, which came in with 1.4 percent and .4 percent job growth figures, respectively, for the 2008-09 comparison.
The county's unemployment rate, however, remains a dark spot.
"In February 2010, Prince William County had a civilian unemployment rate of 6.6 percent, compared to January 2008, when the rate was 4.2 percent," according to the county's quarterly report.
Nationally, unemployment stood at 9.7 percent in January 2010 and statewide, at 7.6 percent, the report states -- and that means other categories of economic indictors reap the benefit, too.
"The 2008 American Community Survey reported that [the county's] poverty rate was 5.2 percent in 2008, less than half the statewide rate of 10.2 percent and about one third the national rate of 13.2 percent," according to the quarterly report.
The county's median household income in 2008, according to ACS figures, was $88,724, leading to its rank of 16th in terms of wealth among the largest counties in the United States. Per capita income in the county for 2008, meanwhile, came in at $36,049, according to the quarterly report.
Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-390-3903.
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