Number of jobs growing in Amherst County

By Bryan Gentry

Published: August 6, 2008

The job creation rate in Amherst County in the past 12 months has kept pace with most of Region 2000, which has led the state in job growth for several months this year.

In June 2008, the county had added 313 jobs since the same time last year, a growth rate of 2.05 percent, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.

That growth rate is nearly identical to every other jurisdiction in the region except Bedford County, which had more than 3 percent job growth in that same time.

The region as a whole had about 2.3 percent growth, the highest percentage growth rate in Virginia.

Unemployment in the county jumped to 4.3 percent from 3.8 percent in June 2007. The jobless rate at the state and regional level took larger jumps, however.

William Mezger, chief economist for the Virginia Employment Commission, said the uptick in unemployment is normal for June and reflects students looking for summer jobs.