Data / Rankings / Job creation rate / Counties in Virginia

Counties in Virginia by job creation rate

Richmond County had the highest job creation rate of 133 counties in 2021, at 22.541%. Bath County had the lowest, at 3.003%. The median was 11.149% and the figure for Virginia was 11.798%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest22.541Richmond County
Lowest3.003Bath County
Median11.149133 counties
Virginia11.798History

Map of counties, 2021

Accomack County: 7.834 %Albemarle County: 8.327 %Alleghany County: 11.754 %Amelia County: 10.54 %Amherst County: 11.609 %Appomattox County: 13.223 %Arlington County: 10.103 %Augusta County: 8.92 %Bath County: 3.003 %Bedford County: 13.877 %Bland County: 9.628 %Botetourt County: 10.285 %Brunswick County: 9.272 %Buchanan County: 6.149 %Buckingham County: 7.878 %Campbell County: 9.586 %Caroline County: 13.946 %Carroll County: 14.276 %Charles City County: 8.964 %Charlotte County: 17.938 %Chesterfield County: 13.598 %Clarke County: 8.265 %Craig County: 9.836 %Culpeper County: 10.777 %Cumberland County: 14.091 %Dickenson County: 7.951 %Dinwiddie County: 10.353 %Essex County: 9.38 %Fairfax County: 13.658 %Fauquier County: 12.29 %Floyd County: 11.501 %Fluvanna County: 17.241 %Franklin County: 11.984 %Frederick County: 11.402 %Giles County: 12.969 %Gloucester County: 12.645 %Goochland County: 7.461 %Grayson County: 14.793 %Greene County: 20.493 %Greensville County: 12.007 %Halifax County: 10.169 %Hanover County: 8.863 %Henrico County: 12.127 %Henry County: 11.694 %Highland County: 9.138 %Isle of Wight County: 11.537 %James City County: 9.611 %King and Queen County: 15.981 %King George County: 14.874 %King William County: 11.165 %Lancaster County: 17.062 %Lee County: 10.033 %Loudoun County: 15.493 %Louisa County: 12.659 %Lunenburg County: 7.041 %Madison County: 11.148 %Mathews County: 11.793 %Mecklenburg County: 12.139 %Middlesex County: 12.134 %Montgomery County: 14.905 %Nelson County: 8.777 %New Kent County: 12.006 %Northampton County: 11.313 %Northumberland County: 14.294 %Nottoway County: 7.055 %Orange County: 12.245 %Page County: 12.744 %Patrick County: 7.216 %Pittsylvania County: 13.848 %Powhatan County: 14.172 %Prince Edward County: 11.043 %Prince George County: 18.601 %Prince William County: 13.618 %Pulaski County: 10.82 %Rappahannock County: 13.043 %Richmond County: 22.541 %Roanoke County: 12.02 %Rockbridge County: 7.999 %Rockingham County: 8.78 %Russell County: 9.962 %Scott County: 8.847 %Shenandoah County: 8.993 %Smyth County: 6.867 %Southampton County: 13.032 %Spotsylvania County: 12.716 %Stafford County: 13.015 %Surry County: 3.161 %Sussex County: 8.231 %Tazewell County: 7.806 %Warren County: 11.185 %Washington County: 11.472 %Westmoreland County: 13.793 %Wise County: 7.405 %Wythe County: 10.646 %York County: 8.844 %Alexandria city: 9.859 %Bristol city: 8.047 %Buena Vista city: 10.103 %Charlottesville city: 9.337 %Chesapeake city: 11.181 %Colonial Heights city: 10.47 %Covington city: 12.843 %Danville city: 7.689 %Emporia city: 16.843 %Fairfax city: 15.333 %Falls Church city: 9.976 %Franklin city: 12.341 %Fredericksburg city: 11.596 %Galax city: 10.109 %Hampton city: 11.326 %Harrisonburg city: 10.925 %Hopewell city: 9.635 %Lexington city: 17.672 %Lynchburg city: 7.415 %Manassas city: 10.523 %Manassas Park city: 13.766 %Martinsville city: 12.928 %Newport News city: 8.029 %Norfolk city: 9.107 %Norton city: 9.866 %Petersburg city: 7.892 %Poquoson city: 19.123 %Portsmouth city: 10.207 %Radford city: 13.127 %Richmond city: 10.32 %Roanoke city: 13.107 %Salem city: 8.979 %Staunton city: 9.482 %Suffolk city: 11.149 %Virginia Beach city: 12.596 %Waynesboro city: 13.123 %Williamsburg city: 6.573 %Winchester city: 8.101 %
  • Under 8.3
  • 8.3 to 9.9
  • 9.9 to 11
  • 11 to 12
  • 12 to 14
  • 14 and over
%, 2021. 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, 2021

Richmond County: 22.541 %Richmond County22.541Greene County: 20.493 %Greene County20.493Poquoson city: 19.123 %Poquoson city19.123Prince George County: 18.601 %Prince George County18.601Charlotte County: 17.938 %Charlotte County17.938Lexington city: 17.672 %Lexington city17.672Fluvanna County: 17.241 %Fluvanna County17.241Lancaster County: 17.062 %Lancaster County17.062Emporia city: 16.843 %Emporia city16.843King and Queen County: 15.981 %King and Queen County15.981Loudoun County: 15.493 %Loudoun County15.493Fairfax city: 15.333 %Fairfax city15.333Montgomery County: 14.905 %Montgomery County14.905King George County: 14.874 %King George County14.874Grayson County: 14.793 %Grayson County14.793Northumberland County: 14.294 %Northumberland County14.294Carroll County: 14.276 %Carroll County14.276Powhatan County: 14.172 %Powhatan County14.172Cumberland County: 14.091 %Cumberland County14.091Caroline County: 13.946 %Caroline County13.946Bedford County: 13.877 %Bedford County13.877Pittsylvania County: 13.848 %Pittsylvania County13.848Westmoreland County: 13.793 %Westmoreland County13.793Manassas Park city: 13.766 %Manassas Park city13.766Fairfax County: 13.658 %Fairfax County13.658Prince William County: 13.618 %Prince William County13.618Chesterfield County: 13.598 %Chesterfield County13.598Appomattox County: 13.223 %Appomattox County13.223Radford city: 13.127 %Radford city13.127Waynesboro city: 13.123 %Waynesboro city13.123Roanoke city: 13.107 %Roanoke city13.107Rappahannock County: 13.043 %Rappahannock County13.043Southampton County: 13.032 %Southampton County13.032Stafford County: 13.015 %Stafford County13.015Giles County: 12.969 %Giles County12.969Martinsville city: 12.928 %Martinsville city12.928Covington city: 12.843 %Covington city12.843Page County: 12.744 %Page County12.744Spotsylvania County: 12.716 %Spotsylvania County12.716Louisa County: 12.659 %Louisa County12.659Richmond County: 22.541 %Richmond County22.541Greene County: 20.493 %Greene County20.493Poquoson city: 19.123 %Poquoson city19.123Prince George County: 18.601 %Prince George County18.601Charlotte County: 17.938 %Charlotte County17.938Lexington city: 17.672 %Lexington city17.672Fluvanna County: 17.241 %Fluvanna County17.241Lancaster County: 17.062 %Lancaster County17.062Emporia city: 16.843 %Emporia city16.843King and Queen County: 15.981 %King and Queen County15.981Loudoun County: 15.493 %Loudoun County15.493Fairfax city: 15.333 %Fairfax city15.333Montgomery County: 14.905 %Montgomery County14.905King George County: 14.874 %King George County14.874Grayson County: 14.793 %Grayson County14.793Northumberland County: 14.294 %Northumberland County14.294Carroll County: 14.276 %Carroll County14.276Powhatan County: 14.172 %Powhatan County14.172Cumberland County: 14.091 %Cumberland County14.091Caroline County: 13.946 %Caroline County13.946Bedford County: 13.877 %Bedford County13.877Pittsylvania County: 13.848 %Pittsylvania County13.848Westmoreland County: 13.793 %Westmoreland County13.793Manassas Park city: 13.766 %Manassas Park city13.766Fairfax County: 13.658 %Fairfax County13.658Prince William County: 13.618 %Prince William County13.618Chesterfield County: 13.598 %Chesterfield County13.598Appomattox County: 13.223 %Appomattox County13.223Radford city: 13.127 %Radford city13.127Waynesboro city: 13.123 %Waynesboro city13.123Roanoke city: 13.107 %Roanoke city13.107Rappahannock County: 13.043 %Rappahannock County13.043Southampton County: 13.032 %Southampton County13.032Stafford County: 13.015 %Stafford County13.015Giles County: 12.969 %Giles County12.969Martinsville city: 12.928 %Martinsville city12.928Covington city: 12.843 %Covington city12.843Page County: 12.744 %Page County12.744Spotsylvania County: 12.716 %Spotsylvania County12.716Louisa County: 12.659 %Louisa County12.659
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Richmond County22.541+11.92 pts
2Greene County20.493+7.54 pts
3Poquoson city19.123+9.13 pts
4Prince George County18.601+2.09 pts
5Charlotte County17.938+4.73 pts
6Lexington city17.672+10.71 pts
7Fluvanna County17.241+4.03 pts
8Lancaster County17.062+7.31 pts
9Emporia city16.843+6.32 pts
10King and Queen County15.981+4.16 pts
11Loudoun County15.493+3.74 pts
12Fairfax city15.333+2.21 pts
13Montgomery County14.905+4.3 pts
14King George County14.874+3.71 pts
15Grayson County14.793+5.37 pts
16Northumberland County14.294+2.99 pts
17Carroll County14.276-0.01 pts
18Powhatan County14.172+2.66 pts
19Cumberland County14.091+3.53 pts
20Caroline County13.946+6.39 pts
21Bedford County13.877+4.91 pts
22Pittsylvania County13.848+4.72 pts
23Westmoreland County13.793+6.25 pts
24Manassas Park city13.766+1.62 pts
25Fairfax County13.658+0.46 pts
26Prince William County13.618+1.54 pts
27Chesterfield County13.598+1.45 pts
28Appomattox County13.223+5.27 pts
29Radford city13.127+7.23 pts
30Waynesboro city13.123+2.05 pts
31Roanoke city13.107+4.21 pts
32Rappahannock County13.043-1.95 pts
33Southampton County13.032+6.65 pts
34Stafford County13.015-1.85 pts
35Giles County12.969+5.27 pts
36Martinsville city12.928+1.44 pts
37Covington city12.843+8.5 pts
38Page County12.744+2.72 pts
39Spotsylvania County12.716+1.37 pts
40Louisa County12.659+3.15 pts
41Gloucester County12.645+2.67 pts
42Virginia Beach city12.596-0.34 pts
43Franklin city12.341+4.03 pts
44Fauquier County12.29+1.41 pts
45Orange County12.245+1.21 pts
46Mecklenburg County12.139+1.66 pts
47Middlesex County12.134-2.75 pts
48Henrico County12.127+1.56 pts
49Roanoke County12.02+4.39 pts
50Greensville County12.007+3.82 pts
51New Kent County12.006-3.02 pts
52Franklin County11.984+0.08 pts
53Mathews County11.793-0.53 pts
54Alleghany County11.754+2.72 pts
55Henry County11.694+0.46 pts
56Amherst County11.609+2.58 pts
57Fredericksburg city11.596-0.89 pts
58Isle of Wight County11.537+5.62 pts
59Floyd County11.501-1.38 pts
60Washington County11.472+2.9 pts
61Frederick County11.402-6 pts
62Hampton city11.326+1.52 pts
63Northampton County11.313+3.38 pts
64Warren County11.185-1.16 pts
65Chesapeake city11.181-1.45 pts
66King William County11.165+1.07 pts
67Suffolk city11.149-2.04 pts
68Madison County11.148-5.76 pts
69Prince Edward County11.043+1.78 pts
70Harrisonburg city10.925+1.7 pts
71Pulaski County10.82-0.05 pts
72Culpeper County10.777-2.34 pts
73Wythe County10.646+2.97 pts
74Amelia County10.54-6.26 pts
75Manassas city10.523-4.2 pts
76Colonial Heights city10.47-2.39 pts
77Dinwiddie County10.353+0.76 pts
78Richmond city10.32-1.67 pts
79Botetourt County10.285+1.33 pts
80Portsmouth city10.207+0.21 pts
81Halifax County10.169+1.73 pts
82Galax city10.109+5.06 pts
83Arlington County10.103-3.21 pts
83Buena Vista city10.103-1.23 pts
85Lee County10.033+2.92 pts
86Falls Church city9.976-2.21 pts
87Russell County9.962+2.17 pts
88Norton city9.866+3.12 pts
89Alexandria city9.859-0.53 pts
90Craig County9.836-5.23 pts
91Hopewell city9.635+0.57 pts
92Bland County9.628-0.35 pts
93James City County9.611-0.22 pts
94Campbell County9.586-0.39 pts
95Staunton city9.482+2.71 pts
96Essex County9.38-2.12 pts
97Charlottesville city9.337-0.61 pts
98Brunswick County9.272+0.53 pts
99Highland County9.138+0.62 pts
100Norfolk city9.107-0.72 pts
101Shenandoah County8.993+1.23 pts
102Salem city8.979-0.42 pts
103Charles City County8.964-7.83 pts
104Augusta County8.92+1.16 pts
105Hanover County8.863-1.8 pts
106Scott County8.847-0.13 pts
107York County8.844-0.81 pts
108Rockingham County8.78-1.07 pts
109Nelson County8.777-2.95 pts
110Albemarle County8.327-1.87 pts
111Clarke County8.265-10.69 pts
112Sussex County8.231-3.35 pts
113Winchester city8.101+0.93 pts
114Bristol city8.047-0.47 pts
115Newport News city8.029-3.6 pts
116Rockbridge County7.999-7.29 pts
117Dickenson County7.951-1.4 pts
118Petersburg city7.892+0.04 pts
119Buckingham County7.878-3.34 pts
120Accomack County7.834-1.59 pts
121Tazewell County7.806+0.08 pts
122Danville city7.689+0.29 pts
123Goochland County7.461-6.86 pts
124Lynchburg city7.415+0.53 pts
125Wise County7.405-1.73 pts
126Patrick County7.216-2.65 pts
127Nottoway County7.055-0.95 pts
128Lunenburg County7.041+1.65 pts
129Smyth County6.867+0.47 pts
130Williamsburg city6.573-2.85 pts
131Buchanan County6.149-2.83 pts
132Surry County3.161-1.63 pts
133Bath County3.003-2.3 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, 2021) [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, 2021. 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=2021. 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, 2021. 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=2021.

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, 2021 [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=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2021,
  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, 2021}},
  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=2021. 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, 2021
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=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-creation-rate/virginia-counties?period=2021.
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?

Richmond County, with 22.541% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest job creation rate?

Bath County, with 3.003% in 2021.

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