Data / Rankings / Job destruction rate / Counties in Virginia

Counties in Virginia by job destruction rate

Goochland County had the highest job destruction rate of 133 counties in 2016, at 30.631%. Surry County had the lowest, at 4.077%. The median was 9.726% and the figure for Virginia was 10.914%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest30.631Goochland County
Lowest4.077Surry County
Median9.726133 counties
Virginia10.914History

Map of counties, 2016

Accomack County: 5.297 %Albemarle County: 8.423 %Alleghany County: 9.522 %Amelia County: 10.422 %Amherst County: 11.115 %Appomattox County: 10.441 %Arlington County: 12.235 %Augusta County: 7.746 %Bath County: 9.134 %Bedford County: 13.066 %Bland County: 4.736 %Botetourt County: 11.126 %Brunswick County: 9.615 %Buchanan County: 13.939 %Buckingham County: 9.025 %Campbell County: 8.384 %Caroline County: 10.076 %Carroll County: 7.9 %Charles City County: 7.207 %Charlotte County: 13.4 %Chesterfield County: 9.368 %Clarke County: 8.248 %Craig County: 15.432 %Culpeper County: 9.137 %Cumberland County: 15.028 %Dickenson County: 20.201 %Dinwiddie County: 6.412 %Essex County: 4.892 %Fairfax County: 13.47 %Fauquier County: 11.45 %Floyd County: 10.952 %Fluvanna County: 11.264 %Franklin County: 23.5 %Frederick County: 6.703 %Giles County: 11.861 %Gloucester County: 9.114 %Goochland County: 30.631 %Grayson County: 8.788 %Greene County: 10.598 %Greensville County: 7.17 %Halifax County: 7.878 %Hanover County: 8.046 %Henrico County: 10.227 %Henry County: 7.701 %Highland County: 14.269 %Isle of Wight County: 7.267 %James City County: 9.344 %King and Queen County: 7.784 %King George County: 15.097 %King William County: 9.732 %Lancaster County: 16.061 %Lee County: 14.014 %Loudoun County: 9.225 %Louisa County: 7.433 %Lunenburg County: 11.147 %Madison County: 22.458 %Mathews County: 15.69 %Mecklenburg County: 10.942 %Middlesex County: 11.944 %Montgomery County: 10.371 %Nelson County: 10.3 %New Kent County: 8.024 %Northampton County: 7.844 %Northumberland County: 19.622 %Nottoway County: 20.647 %Orange County: 7.748 %Page County: 10.278 %Patrick County: 6.263 %Pittsylvania County: 7.68 %Powhatan County: 11.655 %Prince Edward County: 11.021 %Prince George County: 6.59 %Prince William County: 12.527 %Pulaski County: 10.749 %Rappahannock County: 11.883 %Richmond County: 5.901 %Roanoke County: 13.145 %Rockbridge County: 7.95 %Rockingham County: 7.296 %Russell County: 9.42 %Scott County: 7.573 %Shenandoah County: 6.978 %Smyth County: 14.696 %Southampton County: 7.332 %Spotsylvania County: 9.13 %Stafford County: 10.905 %Surry County: 4.077 %Sussex County: 11.985 %Tazewell County: 11.236 %Warren County: 9.052 %Washington County: 8.752 %Westmoreland County: 9.233 %Wise County: 12.643 %Wythe County: 8.289 %York County: 9.772 %Alexandria city: 8.682 %Bristol city: 8.413 %Buena Vista city: 22.589 %Charlottesville city: 15.051 %Chesapeake city: 9.903 %Colonial Heights city: 10.479 %Covington city: 8.752 %Danville city: 7.332 %Emporia city: 5.159 %Fairfax city: 17.525 %Falls Church city: 9.057 %Franklin city: 7.999 %Fredericksburg city: 8.18 %Galax city: 8.557 %Hampton city: 9.561 %Harrisonburg city: 10.963 %Hopewell city: 9.192 %Lexington city: 6.946 %Lynchburg city: 6.917 %Manassas city: 9.726 %Manassas Park city: 10.327 %Martinsville city: 11.999 %Newport News city: 7.521 %Norfolk city: 12.547 %Norton city: 14.522 %Petersburg city: 16.414 %Poquoson city: 9.887 %Portsmouth city: 12.432 %Radford city: 8.993 %Richmond city: 10.431 %Roanoke city: 7.165 %Salem city: 7.301 %Staunton city: 14.921 %Suffolk city: 8.729 %Virginia Beach city: 9.966 %Waynesboro city: 9.939 %Williamsburg city: 12.868 %Winchester city: 6.908 %
  • Under 7.4
  • 7.4 to 8.7
  • 8.7 to 9.7
  • 9.7 to 11
  • 11 to 13
  • 13 and over
%, 2016. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2016

Goochland County: 30.631 %Goochland County30.631Franklin County: 23.5 %Franklin County23.5Buena Vista city: 22.589 %Buena Vista city22.589Madison County: 22.458 %Madison County22.458Nottoway County: 20.647 %Nottoway County20.647Dickenson County: 20.201 %Dickenson County20.201Northumberland County: 19.622 %Northumberland County19.622Fairfax city: 17.525 %Fairfax city17.525Petersburg city: 16.414 %Petersburg city16.414Lancaster County: 16.061 %Lancaster County16.061Mathews County: 15.69 %Mathews County15.69Craig County: 15.432 %Craig County15.432King George County: 15.097 %King George County15.097Charlottesville city: 15.051 %Charlottesville city15.051Cumberland County: 15.028 %Cumberland County15.028Staunton city: 14.921 %Staunton city14.921Smyth County: 14.696 %Smyth County14.696Norton city: 14.522 %Norton city14.522Highland County: 14.269 %Highland County14.269Lee County: 14.014 %Lee County14.014Buchanan County: 13.939 %Buchanan County13.939Fairfax County: 13.47 %Fairfax County13.47Charlotte County: 13.4 %Charlotte County13.4Roanoke County: 13.145 %Roanoke County13.145Bedford County: 13.066 %Bedford County13.066Williamsburg city: 12.868 %Williamsburg city12.868Wise County: 12.643 %Wise County12.643Norfolk city: 12.547 %Norfolk city12.547Prince William County: 12.527 %Prince William County12.527Portsmouth city: 12.432 %Portsmouth city12.432Arlington County: 12.235 %Arlington County12.235Martinsville city: 11.999 %Martinsville city11.999Sussex County: 11.985 %Sussex County11.985Middlesex County: 11.944 %Middlesex County11.944Rappahannock County: 11.883 %Rappahannock County11.883Giles County: 11.861 %Giles County11.861Powhatan County: 11.655 %Powhatan County11.655Fauquier County: 11.45 %Fauquier County11.45Fluvanna County: 11.264 %Fluvanna County11.264Tazewell County: 11.236 %Tazewell County11.236Goochland County: 30.631 %Goochland County30.631Franklin County: 23.5 %Franklin County23.5Buena Vista city: 22.589 %Buena Vista city22.589Madison County: 22.458 %Madison County22.458Nottoway County: 20.647 %Nottoway County20.647Dickenson County: 20.201 %Dickenson County20.201Northumberland County: 19.622 %Northumberland County19.622Fairfax city: 17.525 %Fairfax city17.525Petersburg city: 16.414 %Petersburg city16.414Lancaster County: 16.061 %Lancaster County16.061Mathews County: 15.69 %Mathews County15.69Craig County: 15.432 %Craig County15.432King George County: 15.097 %King George County15.097Charlottesville city: 15.051 %Charlottesville city15.051Cumberland County: 15.028 %Cumberland County15.028Staunton city: 14.921 %Staunton city14.921Smyth County: 14.696 %Smyth County14.696Norton city: 14.522 %Norton city14.522Highland County: 14.269 %Highland County14.269Lee County: 14.014 %Lee County14.014Buchanan County: 13.939 %Buchanan County13.939Fairfax County: 13.47 %Fairfax County13.47Charlotte County: 13.4 %Charlotte County13.4Roanoke County: 13.145 %Roanoke County13.145Bedford County: 13.066 %Bedford County13.066Williamsburg city: 12.868 %Williamsburg city12.868Wise County: 12.643 %Wise County12.643Norfolk city: 12.547 %Norfolk city12.547Prince William County: 12.527 %Prince William County12.527Portsmouth city: 12.432 %Portsmouth city12.432Arlington County: 12.235 %Arlington County12.235Martinsville city: 11.999 %Martinsville city11.999Sussex County: 11.985 %Sussex County11.985Middlesex County: 11.944 %Middlesex County11.944Rappahannock County: 11.883 %Rappahannock County11.883Giles County: 11.861 %Giles County11.861Powhatan County: 11.655 %Powhatan County11.655Fauquier County: 11.45 %Fauquier County11.45Fluvanna County: 11.264 %Fluvanna County11.264Tazewell County: 11.236 %Tazewell County11.236
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2016 (%)Change on 2015
1Goochland County30.631+18.06 pts
2Franklin County23.5+16.1 pts
3Buena Vista city22.589+14.61 pts
4Madison County22.458+16.38 pts
5Nottoway County20.647+13.79 pts
6Dickenson County20.201+2.33 pts
7Northumberland County19.622+7.25 pts
8Fairfax city17.525+6.47 pts
9Petersburg city16.414+7 pts
10Lancaster County16.061+6.06 pts
11Mathews County15.69+2.38 pts
12Craig County15.432+2.49 pts
13King George County15.097-2.88 pts
14Charlottesville city15.051+4.41 pts
15Cumberland County15.028+1.67 pts
16Staunton city14.921+8.03 pts
17Smyth County14.696+1.31 pts
18Norton city14.522+1.44 pts
19Highland County14.269-3.25 pts
20Lee County14.014+0.86 pts
21Buchanan County13.939-10.11 pts
22Fairfax County13.47+0.22 pts
23Charlotte County13.4-3.14 pts
24Roanoke County13.145+4.37 pts
25Bedford County13.066+2.77 pts
26Williamsburg city12.868+3.28 pts
27Wise County12.643-0.53 pts
28Norfolk city12.547+0.93 pts
29Prince William County12.527-1.01 pts
30Portsmouth city12.432-1.14 pts
31Arlington County12.235-0.13 pts
32Martinsville city11.999+1.69 pts
33Sussex County11.985+2.5 pts
34Middlesex County11.944+0.78 pts
35Rappahannock County11.883-5.34 pts
36Giles County11.861-0.81 pts
37Powhatan County11.655-0.68 pts
38Fauquier County11.45+1.26 pts
39Fluvanna County11.264+0.32 pts
40Tazewell County11.236+2.66 pts
41Lunenburg County11.147-0.12 pts
42Botetourt County11.126+2.77 pts
43Amherst County11.115+2.1 pts
44Prince Edward County11.021+1.57 pts
45Harrisonburg city10.963+2.32 pts
46Floyd County10.952-2.06 pts
47Mecklenburg County10.942-2.68 pts
48Stafford County10.905-3.07 pts
49Pulaski County10.749+3.35 pts
50Greene County10.598+3.63 pts
51Colonial Heights city10.479+0.78 pts
52Appomattox County10.441-1.43 pts
53Richmond city10.431-1.82 pts
54Amelia County10.422+0.98 pts
55Montgomery County10.371+2.34 pts
56Manassas Park city10.327-2.06 pts
57Nelson County10.3+1.06 pts
58Page County10.278+0.39 pts
59Henrico County10.227-0.75 pts
60Caroline County10.076-4.05 pts
61Virginia Beach city9.966-2.19 pts
62Waynesboro city9.939+3.41 pts
63Chesapeake city9.903+0.62 pts
64Poquoson city9.887-4.46 pts
65York County9.772+1.44 pts
66King William County9.732-0.17 pts
67Manassas city9.726-5.19 pts
68Brunswick County9.615+0.63 pts
69Hampton city9.561-0.91 pts
70Alleghany County9.522+0.61 pts
71Russell County9.42-2.18 pts
72Chesterfield County9.368-0.18 pts
73James City County9.344-1.34 pts
74Westmoreland County9.233-0.52 pts
75Loudoun County9.225-1.06 pts
76Hopewell city9.192-6.23 pts
77Culpeper County9.137-0.97 pts
78Bath County9.134+4.26 pts
79Spotsylvania County9.13-2.81 pts
80Gloucester County9.114-0.73 pts
81Falls Church city9.057-2.29 pts
82Warren County9.052+0.49 pts
83Buckingham County9.025-1.94 pts
84Radford city8.993-4.51 pts
85Grayson County8.788-7.73 pts
86Covington city8.752+1.97 pts
86Washington County8.752-4.23 pts
88Suffolk city8.729+0.44 pts
89Alexandria city8.682-1.26 pts
90Galax city8.557+3.47 pts
91Albemarle County8.423-2.39 pts
92Bristol city8.413-16.27 pts
93Campbell County8.384+0.3 pts
94Wythe County8.289+0.67 pts
95Clarke County8.248+0.42 pts
96Fredericksburg city8.18-7.66 pts
97Hanover County8.046-1.4 pts
98New Kent County8.024-7.42 pts
99Franklin city7.999-0.78 pts
100Rockbridge County7.95-0.6 pts
101Carroll County7.9-2.28 pts
102Halifax County7.878+0.73 pts
103Northampton County7.844-0.27 pts
104King and Queen County7.784-14.54 pts
105Orange County7.748+0.8 pts
106Augusta County7.746+0.34 pts
107Henry County7.701-0.12 pts
108Pittsylvania County7.68-2.2 pts
109Scott County7.573-6.54 pts
110Newport News city7.521-1.04 pts
111Louisa County7.433+0.52 pts
112Danville city7.332+0.38 pts
112Southampton County7.332-4.46 pts
114Salem city7.301-1.52 pts
115Rockingham County7.296+1.38 pts
116Isle of Wight County7.267+0.36 pts
117Charles City County7.207-4.69 pts
118Greensville County7.17+0.82 pts
119Roanoke city7.165-1.39 pts
120Shenandoah County6.978-0 pts
121Lexington city6.946+0.73 pts
122Lynchburg city6.917-0.02 pts
123Winchester city6.908-0.42 pts
124Frederick County6.703-1 pts
125Prince George County6.59-9.51 pts
126Dinwiddie County6.412-3.08 pts
127Patrick County6.263-1.79 pts
128Richmond County5.901-1.88 pts
129Accomack County5.297-6.45 pts
130Emporia city5.159-9.64 pts
131Essex County4.892-4.16 pts
132Bland County4.736-4.68 pts
133Surry County4.077+1.12 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Jobs lost at closing and shrinking 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 added elsewhere are not subtracted, so the net change is job_creation_rate minus this rate. Not a layoff rate: it counts positions lost at establishments, not people who lost a job. 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 destruction 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 destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010 (Counties in Virginia by job destruction rate, 2016) [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 destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in Virginia by job destruction rate, 2016. 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-destruction-rate/virginia-counties?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Counties in Virginia by job destruction rate, 2016. 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-destruction-rate/virginia-counties?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in Virginia by job destruction rate, 2016 [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-destruction-rate/virginia-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2016,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in Virginia by job destruction rate, 2016}},
  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-destruction-rate/virginia-counties?period=2016. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction 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 destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in Virginia by job destruction rate, 2016
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-destruction-rate/virginia-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/virginia-counties?period=2016.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction 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 destruction rate?

Goochland County, with 30.631% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest job destruction rate?

Surry County, with 4.077% in 2016.

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 destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Job destruction rate: other rankings

Counties in Virginia: more rankings