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Virginia sees surge of job growth

By Cheryl Chumley
Published: June 28, 2010

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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. -- Virginia was one of five states that gained the most in payroll employment figures between April and May, according to just-released figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“In May, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in five states and was unchanged in four states,” the BLS reported on June 18. “The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in Texas, California, New York, and Florida and Virginia.”

Virginia and Florida both added 20,300 new jobs during the April-May comparison. Texas, meanwhile, added 75,200; California, 28,300; and New York, 21,000, according to the BLS.

Still, these jobs are not long-term opportunities.

Most come from the Census Bureau, and reflect the hiring of temporary workers. Nationwide, BLS reported, payroll employment “grew by 431,000 in May,” with 411,000 due to the hiring of Census enumerators and workers. Private sector job growth, during this same month, remained nearly stagnant, adding only 41,000 new jobs across the entire nation, BLS found.

As far as the unemployment rate goes, Virginia saw a small drop in the monthly comparison, going from 7.2 percent in April to 7.1 percent in May. Nationally, the unemployment rate stood at 9.7 percent in May, down from April’s 9.9 percent – but up from 9.4 percent from May 2009.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-530-3903.