Governor McDonnell: 'Va unemployment falls to 5.2%'

From Governor Bob McDonnell's office....

Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement this morning following the release of official monthly unemployment data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics showing Virginia’s unemployment rate has fallen to 5.2%. That’s the lowest unemployment rate in Virginia in 4 ½ years.

 

“Today’s good news is the direct result of Virginians working together across party lines to get our economy back on track and more Virginians back to work. Over the past 3 years we’ve focused on putting in place innovative public policies that spur private-sector job creation and help every Virginian, in every community, find the good-paying job they need and deserve. We’ve budgeted conservatively. We’ve aggressively pursued new job-creating businesses. We’ve marketed the Commonwealth. We’ve passed the first major transportation funding plan in 27 years to ensure that businesses will have the infrastructure they need to open, grow and create good jobs. Those actions are working. Agricultural exports have hit record highs. We keep announcing new, exciting business relocations and expansions. And the unemployment rate has fallen from 7.3% during our first month in office to 5.2% today, the lowest mark in Virginia since November 2008. We’ve got a lot of work left to do before our economy will be fully recovered, but we’ve made tremendous progress. That’s what happens when Virginians work together across regional and party lines to improve life in our wonderful Commonwealth. This is a great day for Virginia.”

 

Fast Facts about Virginia’s Falling Unemployment Rate

 

·         Virginia’s 5.2% April 2013 unemployment rate is the lowest in the state since November 2008

·         Virginia’s unemployment rate is 2.3% below the national average of 7.5%

·         Since February 2010 (the first full month of the Administration) over 160,000 net new jobs have been created in the state

·         Virginia’s 5.2% April 2013 unemployment rate is the lowest in the Southeast

·         Virginia’s 5.2% April 2013 unemployment rate is the second-lowest east of the Mississippi

·         Virginia’s 5.2% April 2013 unemployment rate is far below the Commonwealth’s neighboring states:

1.         1.3% lower than Maryland

2.         2.8% lower than Tennessee

3.         3.7% lower than North Carolina

4.         1.4% lower than West Virginia

5.         2.7% lower than Kentucky

Virginia unemployment drops to 5.3%, lowest since 2008

From Governor Bob McDonnell:

Virginia's unemployment rate fell to 5.3 percent in the month of March, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the lowest unemployment rate in the Commonwealth since December 2008. Virginia has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, and the second-lowest unemployment rate east of the Mississippi River. The unemployment rate was 7.2% in February 2010, the first full month of the McDonnell Administration. Since Governor McDonnell took office, Virginia has added 147,000 net new jobs. The governor is currently in China as part of a job creation and economic development mission to California, China and Japan. Previous trade missions resulted in more than half a billion dollars in capital investment in the Commonwealth, 1,397 Virginia jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new agricultural exports.

Following release of the new unemployment data, Governor McDonnell issued the following statement.

“Getting people back to work has been the focus of our administration and by working together, we are getting results. Over the last few years the private sector in Virginia has created more jobs and more opportunity for our citizens, and today’s announcement shows that we are continuing to make progress. We have improved the fiscal health of the state, invested in core functions of government and aggressively recruited businesses and entrepreneurs to do business in Virginia. This year, we put in place a lasting fix to our transportation funding system that will make Virginia a better place to live and to do business for years to come.

Our efforts to create new jobs in Virginia don’t stop at the state line. That is why this evening I am in Ningbo, China, seeking to open new markets for Virginia goods and to strengthen existing relationships with companies that do business in Virginia. Increased foreign trade and relationships equals more jobs for Virginians. For example, on Monday, I met with General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ) Vice Minister Wei Chuanzhong to discuss lifting the current Chinese ban on importing poultry products from Virginia. The poultry industry employs more than 10,000 people in Virginia and opening up new markets for export would help create more jobs here in the Commonwealth.

We are also meeting with business, trade, manufacturing executives and others, telling the Virginia story and explaining why Virginia is the best place in the country to do business. Today’s jobs report is encouraging for Virginia and shows the significant progress we have made through working together, across party lines, to get our economy back on track and Virginians back to work. We have much work left to be done before all Virginians can find the good paying jobs they need and deserve in the cities and counties that they call home, and we will continue to do everything we can to make Virginia the best place in the world in which to work and live.”

Thank you, Governor. "Bob's for Jobs" ... campaign promise made, campaign promise kept.

Stanley Furniture announces plan to lay off 530

In a blow to southern Virginia, long-time employer Stanley Furniture has announced plans to lay off 530 workers between October and December of this year. Gov. Bob McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling issued a joint statement Wednesday ... read more.

Cantor-sponsored job fair turns out thousands in Chesterfield

Congressional Whip Eric Cantor (R-7th CD) sponsored a job fair Monday ... and thousands of unemployed Virginians turned out at Chesterfield County's Clover Hill High School.

Tyler Whitley wrote in the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Cantor, the Republican whip in the House of Representatives, worked the crowd by moving along the long line to shake hands and chat with the job-seekers.

He has been a leading critic of President Barack Obama's $787 billion economic-stimulus package; when asked yesterday if the big demand for jobs at the fair showed the need for the stimulus package, Cantor replied, "It shows it's a flop."

With reps from 86 organizations such as Home Depot, MeadWestvaco, and the Air Force, the job fair also offered information about writing resumes and how to avoid foreclosure.

Those working booths included Linwood Cobb, fellow State Central Committee member and chairman of the 7th Congressional District:

Linwood Cobb, a Henrico County businessman and political ally of Cantor, was operating an employment booth on behalf of Mainline Supply Co. "It's very sad -- there are a lot of professionals here," Cobb said. He had interviewed a chemical engineer looking for work.

The job fair received kudos from attendees:

In the Richmond region, the jobless rate was 8.4 percent in June, almost twice the rate of a year ago and higher than the state average of 7.3 percent.

And even churches are laying off people. Jo Blandford will lose her job in religious education at Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Richmond at the end of this month because of downsizing.

She said was pleased with the fair. "It was very professionally done," she said.

VA business leaders speak up, thank Republicans

Speaker Bill Howell addressed a news conference earlier this week with remarks about Virginia's unemployment benefits. He was joined by business leaders from throughout Virginia including Donnie Caffrey, owner and president of Good Foods Groceries; John Nicholson, co-owner of Company Flowers; Debra Girvin, president of Lochlyn Company; and James Hatcher, president of Pleasant Hardware.

In a press release:

Standing united in support of policies that help people in need, encourage job creation and promote sustainable economic growth, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates William J. Howell (R-Stafford) and House Republican Majority Caucus Chairman Samuel A. “Sam” Nixon, Jr. (R-Chesterfield) today joined with business owners and employers from across Virginia to detail the positive impact on job retention and creation of Virginia Republicans’ recent actions on unemployment insurance. At the April 8 reconvened session of the 2009 General Assembly, the House of Delegates approved a temporary 13-week extension in unemployment benefits, lowered health insurance costs for laid-off workers and small business, and rejected amendments by Governor Kaine to SB 1495 that would have permanently expanded state unemployment insurance benefits resulting in higher per-employee taxes for Virginia businesses.

“Republicans know that a robust, growing economy is key to helping laid-off workers, families and taxpayers who are hurting, thereby freeing businesses and entrepreneurs to invest in job creation and expand opportunities,” remarked Speaker Howell. “Virginia businesses that will create the jobs necessary to return our economy to prosperity understand that permanently expanding our state unemployment insurance system will result in higher taxes on jobs, creating a disincentive for new hires and business investment. Acting in a caring and responsible manner, Republicans have taken appropriate steps to assist unemployed Virginians during this economic recession. But, we also recognize that the goal of a laid-off worker is not a short-term government check, but rather a full-time job in a thriving business. I appreciate the support of so many Virginia business owners and leaders. Together, we are going to continue working to create jobs for Virginians and revitalize our state’s economy for the long-term. That’s the top priority for Republicans.”

Republicans are looking out for the long-term interests of Virginians.