Winchester, Harrisonburg edge out ‘Burg in job growth

Winchester and Harrisonburg beat out the Lynchburg area for the state’s highest job growth rate in July and August.

Before July, Lynchburg had led the state for several months, having the number of jobs grow by more than 2 percent compared to year-ago figures.

The change in July and August wasn’t so much a slowdown in Lynchburg’s job growth, but rather recent expansion in Winchester and Harrisonburg.

From August 2007 to August 2008, the Lynchburg area added 2,500 jobs, a 2.3 percent growth rate, according to Virginia Employment Commission data.

Though the region has added jobs overall, it lost 400 manufacturing jobs in that time period.

In that same time, Winchester added 1,600 jobs for 2.8 percent growth, and Harrisonburg added 1,700 jobs for 2.7 percent growth.

William Mezger, chief economist for the Virginia Employment Commission, said a small number of new jobs can boost the employment growth rate higher in smaller metro areas like those two cities.

Winchester’s job growth is taking place in business services, health care and general services, and Harrisonburg’s is connected to James Madison University, Mezger said.