Data / Rankings / Job creation rate / Counties in Virginia

Counties in Virginia by job creation rate

Norton city had the highest job creation rate of 133 counties in 2015, at 27.032%. Surry County had the lowest, at 4.431%. The median was 11.326% and the figure for Virginia was 12.893%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest27.032Norton city
Lowest4.431Surry County
Median11.326133 counties
Virginia12.893History

Map of counties, 2015

Accomack County: 11.231 %Albemarle County: 11.456 %Alleghany County: 8.46 %Amelia County: 11.18 %Amherst County: 8.801 %Appomattox County: 10.533 %Arlington County: 13.477 %Augusta County: 7.343 %Bath County: 7.136 %Bedford County: 11.731 %Bland County: 10.046 %Botetourt County: 12.905 %Brunswick County: 10.901 %Buchanan County: 6.341 %Buckingham County: 11.563 %Campbell County: 12.645 %Caroline County: 12.885 %Carroll County: 9.158 %Charles City County: 7.997 %Charlotte County: 10.603 %Chesterfield County: 13.299 %Clarke County: 10.122 %Craig County: 9.553 %Culpeper County: 12.532 %Cumberland County: 13.92 %Dickenson County: 17.553 %Dinwiddie County: 8.708 %Essex County: 8.554 %Fairfax County: 14.489 %Fauquier County: 11.226 %Floyd County: 14.042 %Fluvanna County: 13.116 %Franklin County: 10.794 %Frederick County: 16.289 %Giles County: 15.016 %Gloucester County: 10.354 %Goochland County: 8.674 %Grayson County: 12.609 %Greene County: 11.608 %Greensville County: 9.125 %Halifax County: 10.839 %Hanover County: 12.703 %Henrico County: 13.23 %Henry County: 9.066 %Highland County: 12.287 %Isle of Wight County: 24.505 %James City County: 12.733 %King and Queen County: 11.541 %King George County: 18.14 %King William County: 10.912 %Lancaster County: 8.905 %Lee County: 8.456 %Loudoun County: 14.721 %Louisa County: 11.326 %Lunenburg County: 16.104 %Madison County: 10.052 %Mathews County: 12.818 %Mecklenburg County: 15.263 %Middlesex County: 13.702 %Montgomery County: 13.262 %Nelson County: 8.956 %New Kent County: 11.507 %Northampton County: 8.555 %Northumberland County: 22.394 %Nottoway County: 11.775 %Orange County: 16.028 %Page County: 10.555 %Patrick County: 10.939 %Pittsylvania County: 10.704 %Powhatan County: 15.928 %Prince Edward County: 8.172 %Prince George County: 17.287 %Prince William County: 13.688 %Pulaski County: 12.777 %Rappahannock County: 13.604 %Richmond County: 10.113 %Roanoke County: 9.225 %Rockbridge County: 9.423 %Rockingham County: 5.311 %Russell County: 9.316 %Scott County: 14.573 %Shenandoah County: 9.344 %Smyth County: 10.47 %Southampton County: 25.23 %Spotsylvania County: 12.542 %Stafford County: 13.49 %Surry County: 4.431 %Sussex County: 9.736 %Tazewell County: 7.868 %Warren County: 7.43 %Washington County: 12.835 %Westmoreland County: 8.525 %Wise County: 10.936 %Wythe County: 15.266 %York County: 13.012 %Alexandria city: 11.172 %Bristol city: 9.52 %Buena Vista city: 15.955 %Charlottesville city: 13.304 %Chesapeake city: 11.849 %Colonial Heights city: 12.821 %Covington city: 9.943 %Danville city: 7.434 %Emporia city: 6.166 %Fairfax city: 11.154 %Falls Church city: 16.025 %Franklin city: 10.439 %Fredericksburg city: 9.141 %Galax city: 10.431 %Hampton city: 12.141 %Harrisonburg city: 11.586 %Hopewell city: 11.36 %Lexington city: 6.102 %Lynchburg city: 9.275 %Manassas city: 8.523 %Manassas Park city: 13.348 %Martinsville city: 10.045 %Newport News city: 8.028 %Norfolk city: 13.426 %Norton city: 27.032 %Petersburg city: 11.253 %Poquoson city: 12.22 %Portsmouth city: 12.225 %Radford city: 8.448 %Richmond city: 19.056 %Roanoke city: 11.337 %Salem city: 10.228 %Staunton city: 11.951 %Suffolk city: 11.77 %Virginia Beach city: 13.077 %Waynesboro city: 9.548 %Williamsburg city: 7.319 %Winchester city: 11.769 %
  • Under 8.7
  • 8.7 to 10
  • 10 to 11
  • 11 to 13
  • 13 to 14
  • 14 and over
%, 2015. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2015

Norton city: 27.032 %Norton city27.032Southampton County: 25.23 %Southampton County25.23Isle of Wight County: 24.505 %Isle of Wight County24.505Northumberland County: 22.394 %Northumberland County22.394Richmond city: 19.056 %Richmond city19.056King George County: 18.14 %King George County18.14Dickenson County: 17.553 %Dickenson County17.553Prince George County: 17.287 %Prince George County17.287Frederick County: 16.289 %Frederick County16.289Lunenburg County: 16.104 %Lunenburg County16.104Orange County: 16.028 %Orange County16.028Falls Church city: 16.025 %Falls Church city16.025Buena Vista city: 15.955 %Buena Vista city15.955Powhatan County: 15.928 %Powhatan County15.928Wythe County: 15.266 %Wythe County15.266Mecklenburg County: 15.263 %Mecklenburg County15.263Giles County: 15.016 %Giles County15.016Loudoun County: 14.721 %Loudoun County14.721Scott County: 14.573 %Scott County14.573Fairfax County: 14.489 %Fairfax County14.489Floyd County: 14.042 %Floyd County14.042Cumberland County: 13.92 %Cumberland County13.92Middlesex County: 13.702 %Middlesex County13.702Prince William County: 13.688 %Prince William County13.688Rappahannock County: 13.604 %Rappahannock County13.604Stafford County: 13.49 %Stafford County13.49Arlington County: 13.477 %Arlington County13.477Norfolk city: 13.426 %Norfolk city13.426Manassas Park city: 13.348 %Manassas Park city13.348Charlottesville city: 13.304 %Charlottesville city13.304Chesterfield County: 13.299 %Chesterfield County13.299Montgomery County: 13.262 %Montgomery County13.262Henrico County: 13.23 %Henrico County13.23Fluvanna County: 13.116 %Fluvanna County13.116Virginia Beach city: 13.077 %Virginia Beach city13.077York County: 13.012 %York County13.012Botetourt County: 12.905 %Botetourt County12.905Caroline County: 12.885 %Caroline County12.885Washington County: 12.835 %Washington County12.835Colonial Heights city: 12.821 %Colonial Heights city12.821Norton city: 27.032 %Norton city27.032Southampton County: 25.23 %Southampton County25.23Isle of Wight County: 24.505 %Isle of Wight County24.505Northumberland County: 22.394 %Northumberland County22.394Richmond city: 19.056 %Richmond city19.056King George County: 18.14 %King George County18.14Dickenson County: 17.553 %Dickenson County17.553Prince George County: 17.287 %Prince George County17.287Frederick County: 16.289 %Frederick County16.289Lunenburg County: 16.104 %Lunenburg County16.104Orange County: 16.028 %Orange County16.028Falls Church city: 16.025 %Falls Church city16.025Buena Vista city: 15.955 %Buena Vista city15.955Powhatan County: 15.928 %Powhatan County15.928Wythe County: 15.266 %Wythe County15.266Mecklenburg County: 15.263 %Mecklenburg County15.263Giles County: 15.016 %Giles County15.016Loudoun County: 14.721 %Loudoun County14.721Scott County: 14.573 %Scott County14.573Fairfax County: 14.489 %Fairfax County14.489Floyd County: 14.042 %Floyd County14.042Cumberland County: 13.92 %Cumberland County13.92Middlesex County: 13.702 %Middlesex County13.702Prince William County: 13.688 %Prince William County13.688Rappahannock County: 13.604 %Rappahannock County13.604Stafford County: 13.49 %Stafford County13.49Arlington County: 13.477 %Arlington County13.477Norfolk city: 13.426 %Norfolk city13.426Manassas Park city: 13.348 %Manassas Park city13.348Charlottesville city: 13.304 %Charlottesville city13.304Chesterfield County: 13.299 %Chesterfield County13.299Montgomery County: 13.262 %Montgomery County13.262Henrico County: 13.23 %Henrico County13.23Fluvanna County: 13.116 %Fluvanna County13.116Virginia Beach city: 13.077 %Virginia Beach city13.077York County: 13.012 %York County13.012Botetourt County: 12.905 %Botetourt County12.905Caroline County: 12.885 %Caroline County12.885Washington County: 12.835 %Washington County12.835Colonial Heights city: 12.821 %Colonial Heights city12.821
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2015 (%)Change on 2014
1Norton city27.032+14.15 pts
2Southampton County25.23+12.24 pts
3Isle of Wight County24.505+12.44 pts
4Northumberland County22.394+11.77 pts
5Richmond city19.056+8.86 pts
6King George County18.14+3.05 pts
7Dickenson County17.553-8.94 pts
8Prince George County17.287-9.03 pts
9Frederick County16.289+5.65 pts
10Lunenburg County16.104-3.75 pts
11Orange County16.028+3.29 pts
12Falls Church city16.025+3.47 pts
13Buena Vista city15.955+2.33 pts
14Powhatan County15.928-0.93 pts
15Wythe County15.266+6.56 pts
16Mecklenburg County15.263+5.28 pts
17Giles County15.016+0.53 pts
18Loudoun County14.721+1.04 pts
19Scott County14.573-0.9 pts
20Fairfax County14.489-0.39 pts
21Floyd County14.042+2.44 pts
22Cumberland County13.92+1.79 pts
23Middlesex County13.702+3.37 pts
24Prince William County13.688+0.27 pts
25Rappahannock County13.604-4.77 pts
26Stafford County13.49-3.4 pts
27Arlington County13.477+1.14 pts
28Norfolk city13.426+2.68 pts
29Manassas Park city13.348+0.93 pts
30Charlottesville city13.304+0.24 pts
31Chesterfield County13.299-0.84 pts
32Montgomery County13.262+2.78 pts
33Henrico County13.23+0.78 pts
34Fluvanna County13.116+0.16 pts
35Virginia Beach city13.077-1.86 pts
36York County13.012+1.73 pts
37Botetourt County12.905+2.37 pts
38Caroline County12.885+1.47 pts
39Washington County12.835-3.07 pts
40Colonial Heights city12.821+1.97 pts
41Mathews County12.818-2.27 pts
42Pulaski County12.777+2.51 pts
43James City County12.733+0.74 pts
44Hanover County12.703+0.9 pts
45Campbell County12.645+3.52 pts
46Grayson County12.609-1 pts
47Spotsylvania County12.542-2.99 pts
48Culpeper County12.532+1.17 pts
49Highland County12.287+1.64 pts
50Portsmouth city12.225-2.52 pts
51Poquoson city12.22+1.07 pts
52Hampton city12.141+2 pts
53Staunton city11.951+4.21 pts
54Chesapeake city11.849+0.98 pts
55Nottoway County11.775+1.44 pts
56Suffolk city11.77+0.7 pts
57Winchester city11.769+4.18 pts
58Bedford County11.731+1.12 pts
59Greene County11.608-0.78 pts
60Harrisonburg city11.586-0.27 pts
61Buckingham County11.563-2.04 pts
62King and Queen County11.541-5.28 pts
63New Kent County11.507-4.58 pts
64Albemarle County11.456-2.45 pts
65Hopewell city11.36-2.83 pts
66Roanoke city11.337+3.83 pts
67Louisa County11.326+3.98 pts
68Petersburg city11.253+0.88 pts
69Accomack County11.231+3.54 pts
70Fauquier County11.226-1.67 pts
71Amelia County11.18+0.2 pts
72Alexandria city11.172-0.03 pts
73Fairfax city11.154-0.12 pts
74Patrick County10.939-3.05 pts
75Wise County10.936+2.34 pts
76King William County10.912+2.86 pts
77Brunswick County10.901-0.07 pts
78Halifax County10.839+2.63 pts
79Franklin County10.794-0.64 pts
80Pittsylvania County10.704+1.7 pts
81Charlotte County10.603-1.36 pts
82Page County10.555+1.41 pts
83Appomattox County10.533-2.26 pts
84Smyth County10.47-5.6 pts
85Franklin city10.439+4.17 pts
86Galax city10.431+2.06 pts
87Gloucester County10.354-0.18 pts
88Salem city10.228+3.68 pts
89Clarke County10.122+2.54 pts
90Richmond County10.113-1.33 pts
91Madison County10.052+0.06 pts
92Bland County10.046+0.51 pts
93Martinsville city10.045-0.92 pts
94Covington city9.943-4.05 pts
95Sussex County9.736-1.49 pts
96Craig County9.553+1.19 pts
97Waynesboro city9.548+0.75 pts
98Bristol city9.52-6.09 pts
99Rockbridge County9.423-1.64 pts
100Shenandoah County9.344-1.12 pts
101Russell County9.316-1.82 pts
102Lynchburg city9.275-0.82 pts
103Roanoke County9.225-1.61 pts
104Carroll County9.158+2.16 pts
105Fredericksburg city9.141-0.45 pts
106Greensville County9.125-1.13 pts
107Henry County9.066-2.92 pts
108Nelson County8.956-1.22 pts
109Lancaster County8.905+1.68 pts
110Amherst County8.801-1.46 pts
111Dinwiddie County8.708+0.64 pts
112Goochland County8.674-1.28 pts
113Northampton County8.555-4.19 pts
114Essex County8.554+2.06 pts
115Westmoreland County8.525-4.41 pts
116Manassas city8.523-1.88 pts
117Alleghany County8.46-2.28 pts
118Lee County8.456-1.31 pts
119Radford city8.448-5.92 pts
120Prince Edward County8.172-4.07 pts
121Newport News city8.028-2.38 pts
122Charles City County7.997-7.55 pts
123Tazewell County7.868-1.9 pts
124Danville city7.434-0.33 pts
125Warren County7.43-3.66 pts
126Augusta County7.343-0.36 pts
127Williamsburg city7.319+1.93 pts
128Bath County7.136-33.76 pts
129Buchanan County6.341-10.33 pts
130Emporia city6.166-6.55 pts
131Lexington city6.102-1.28 pts
132Rockingham County5.311-1.7 pts
133Surry County4.431+1.26 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Jobs added at opening and expanding establishments during the year, as a percentage of average employment in the two years. United States: Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics.

A gross flow: jobs lost elsewhere are not subtracted, so the net change is this rate minus job_destruction_rate. Not the same as payroll job growth from the monthly employment surveys. The year is the twelve months to March: 2023 compares March 2022 with March 2023.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2025). Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010 (Counties in Virginia by job creation rate, 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in Virginia by job creation rate, 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-creation-rate/virginia-counties?period=2015. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Counties in Virginia by job creation rate, 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-creation-rate/virginia-counties?period=2015.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in Virginia by job creation rate, 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-creation-rate/virginia-counties?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2015,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in Virginia by job creation rate, 2015}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-creation-rate/virginia-counties?period=2015. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st\_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in Virginia by job creation rate, 2015
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-creation-rate/virginia-counties?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-creation-rate/virginia-counties?period=2015.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest job creation rate?

Norton city, with 27.032% in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest job creation rate?

Surry County, with 4.431% in 2015.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Job creation rate: other rankings

Counties in Virginia: more rankings