Data / Rankings / Job destruction rate / Counties in Virginia

Counties in Virginia by job destruction rate

Norton city had the highest job destruction rate of 133 counties in 2017, at 33.82%. Bath County had the lowest, at 4.295%. The median was 10.893% and the figure for Virginia was 11.437%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest33.82Norton city
Lowest4.295Bath County
Median10.893133 counties
Virginia11.437History

Map of counties, 2017

Accomack County: 11.513 %Albemarle County: 10.714 %Alleghany County: 11.79 %Amelia County: 11.192 %Amherst County: 9.361 %Appomattox County: 13.692 %Arlington County: 10.602 %Augusta County: 8.365 %Bath County: 4.295 %Bedford County: 13.361 %Bland County: 18.879 %Botetourt County: 10.786 %Brunswick County: 12.382 %Buchanan County: 11.383 %Buckingham County: 12.816 %Campbell County: 24.388 %Caroline County: 8.516 %Carroll County: 18.251 %Charles City County: 6.051 %Charlotte County: 10.344 %Chesterfield County: 10.28 %Clarke County: 12.863 %Craig County: 6.045 %Culpeper County: 12.645 %Cumberland County: 15.893 %Dickenson County: 17.4 %Dinwiddie County: 8.82 %Essex County: 9.023 %Fairfax County: 11.014 %Fauquier County: 9.38 %Floyd County: 11.264 %Fluvanna County: 12.266 %Franklin County: 9.569 %Frederick County: 9.408 %Giles County: 7.065 %Gloucester County: 10.893 %Goochland County: 9.043 %Grayson County: 9.134 %Greene County: 11.734 %Greensville County: 15.59 %Halifax County: 10.031 %Hanover County: 10.453 %Henrico County: 15.493 %Henry County: 15.11 %Highland County: 18.826 %Isle of Wight County: 8.602 %James City County: 9.33 %King and Queen County: 11.665 %King George County: 13.045 %King William County: 16.944 %Lancaster County: 12.791 %Lee County: 12.272 %Loudoun County: 10.118 %Louisa County: 9.529 %Lunenburg County: 15 %Madison County: 6.853 %Mathews County: 9.599 %Mecklenburg County: 9.987 %Middlesex County: 11.521 %Montgomery County: 9.929 %Nelson County: 9.836 %New Kent County: 11.407 %Northampton County: 18.223 %Northumberland County: 9.537 %Nottoway County: 10.873 %Orange County: 10.617 %Page County: 9.558 %Patrick County: 26.406 %Pittsylvania County: 11.472 %Powhatan County: 7.536 %Prince Edward County: 13.548 %Prince George County: 13.932 %Prince William County: 11.549 %Pulaski County: 10.098 %Rappahannock County: 15.15 %Richmond County: 11.048 %Roanoke County: 9.023 %Rockbridge County: 13.844 %Rockingham County: 7.987 %Russell County: 6.042 %Scott County: 14.359 %Shenandoah County: 10.398 %Smyth County: 8.293 %Southampton County: 7.899 %Spotsylvania County: 13.553 %Stafford County: 10.656 %Surry County: 7.235 %Sussex County: 15.031 %Tazewell County: 14.102 %Warren County: 8.919 %Washington County: 13.727 %Westmoreland County: 11.483 %Wise County: 14.301 %Wythe County: 9.818 %York County: 9.571 %Alexandria city: 15.162 %Bristol city: 15.042 %Buena Vista city: 12.729 %Charlottesville city: 12.156 %Chesapeake city: 10.391 %Colonial Heights city: 12.446 %Covington city: 14.717 %Danville city: 9.625 %Emporia city: 8.177 %Fairfax city: 10.332 %Falls Church city: 11.294 %Franklin city: 9.864 %Fredericksburg city: 9.75 %Galax city: 10.938 %Hampton city: 11.731 %Harrisonburg city: 14.874 %Hopewell city: 8.396 %Lexington city: 6.615 %Lynchburg city: 8.685 %Manassas city: 12.794 %Manassas Park city: 13.08 %Martinsville city: 9.014 %Newport News city: 9.631 %Norfolk city: 10.777 %Norton city: 33.82 %Petersburg city: 9.819 %Poquoson city: 14.49 %Portsmouth city: 16.23 %Radford city: 9.449 %Richmond city: 12.513 %Roanoke city: 9.587 %Salem city: 11.158 %Staunton city: 7.744 %Suffolk city: 10.677 %Virginia Beach city: 12.057 %Waynesboro city: 18.222 %Williamsburg city: 7.745 %Winchester city: 9.873 %
  • Under 9
  • 9 to 9.8
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%, 2017. 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, 2017

Norton city: 33.82 %Norton city33.82Patrick County: 26.406 %Patrick County26.406Campbell County: 24.388 %Campbell County24.388Bland County: 18.879 %Bland County18.879Highland County: 18.826 %Highland County18.826Carroll County: 18.251 %Carroll County18.251Northampton County: 18.223 %Northampton County18.223Waynesboro city: 18.222 %Waynesboro city18.222Dickenson County: 17.4 %Dickenson County17.4King William County: 16.944 %King William County16.944Portsmouth city: 16.23 %Portsmouth city16.23Cumberland County: 15.893 %Cumberland County15.893Greensville County: 15.59 %Greensville County15.59Henrico County: 15.493 %Henrico County15.493Alexandria city: 15.162 %Alexandria city15.162Rappahannock County: 15.15 %Rappahannock County15.15Henry County: 15.11 %Henry County15.11Bristol city: 15.042 %Bristol city15.042Sussex County: 15.031 %Sussex County15.031Lunenburg County: 15 %Lunenburg County15Harrisonburg city: 14.874 %Harrisonburg city14.874Covington city: 14.717 %Covington city14.717Poquoson city: 14.49 %Poquoson city14.49Scott County: 14.359 %Scott County14.359Wise County: 14.301 %Wise County14.301Tazewell County: 14.102 %Tazewell County14.102Prince George County: 13.932 %Prince George County13.932Rockbridge County: 13.844 %Rockbridge County13.844Washington County: 13.727 %Washington County13.727Appomattox County: 13.692 %Appomattox County13.692Spotsylvania County: 13.553 %Spotsylvania County13.553Prince Edward County: 13.548 %Prince Edward County13.548Bedford County: 13.361 %Bedford County13.361Manassas Park city: 13.08 %Manassas Park city13.08King George County: 13.045 %King George County13.045Clarke County: 12.863 %Clarke County12.863Buckingham County: 12.816 %Buckingham County12.816Manassas city: 12.794 %Manassas city12.794Lancaster County: 12.791 %Lancaster County12.791Buena Vista city: 12.729 %Buena Vista city12.729Norton city: 33.82 %Norton city33.82Patrick County: 26.406 %Patrick County26.406Campbell County: 24.388 %Campbell County24.388Bland County: 18.879 %Bland County18.879Highland County: 18.826 %Highland County18.826Carroll County: 18.251 %Carroll County18.251Northampton County: 18.223 %Northampton County18.223Waynesboro city: 18.222 %Waynesboro city18.222Dickenson County: 17.4 %Dickenson County17.4King William County: 16.944 %King William County16.944Portsmouth city: 16.23 %Portsmouth city16.23Cumberland County: 15.893 %Cumberland County15.893Greensville County: 15.59 %Greensville County15.59Henrico County: 15.493 %Henrico County15.493Alexandria city: 15.162 %Alexandria city15.162Rappahannock County: 15.15 %Rappahannock County15.15Henry County: 15.11 %Henry County15.11Bristol city: 15.042 %Bristol city15.042Sussex County: 15.031 %Sussex County15.031Lunenburg County: 15 %Lunenburg County15Harrisonburg city: 14.874 %Harrisonburg city14.874Covington city: 14.717 %Covington city14.717Poquoson city: 14.49 %Poquoson city14.49Scott County: 14.359 %Scott County14.359Wise County: 14.301 %Wise County14.301Tazewell County: 14.102 %Tazewell County14.102Prince George County: 13.932 %Prince George County13.932Rockbridge County: 13.844 %Rockbridge County13.844Washington County: 13.727 %Washington County13.727Appomattox County: 13.692 %Appomattox County13.692Spotsylvania County: 13.553 %Spotsylvania County13.553Prince Edward County: 13.548 %Prince Edward County13.548Bedford County: 13.361 %Bedford County13.361Manassas Park city: 13.08 %Manassas Park city13.08King George County: 13.045 %King George County13.045Clarke County: 12.863 %Clarke County12.863Buckingham County: 12.816 %Buckingham County12.816Manassas city: 12.794 %Manassas city12.794Lancaster County: 12.791 %Lancaster County12.791Buena Vista city: 12.729 %Buena Vista city12.729
%. 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

RankCounties2017 (%)Change on 2016
1Norton city33.82+19.3 pts
2Patrick County26.406+20.14 pts
3Campbell County24.388+16 pts
4Bland County18.879+14.14 pts
5Highland County18.826+4.56 pts
6Carroll County18.251+10.35 pts
7Northampton County18.223+10.38 pts
8Waynesboro city18.222+8.28 pts
9Dickenson County17.4-2.8 pts
10King William County16.944+7.21 pts
11Portsmouth city16.23+3.8 pts
12Cumberland County15.893+0.87 pts
13Greensville County15.59+8.42 pts
14Henrico County15.493+5.27 pts
15Alexandria city15.162+6.48 pts
16Rappahannock County15.15+3.27 pts
17Henry County15.11+7.41 pts
18Bristol city15.042+6.63 pts
19Sussex County15.031+3.05 pts
20Lunenburg County15+3.85 pts
21Harrisonburg city14.874+3.91 pts
22Covington city14.717+5.96 pts
23Poquoson city14.49+4.6 pts
24Scott County14.359+6.79 pts
25Wise County14.301+1.66 pts
26Tazewell County14.102+2.87 pts
27Prince George County13.932+7.34 pts
28Rockbridge County13.844+5.89 pts
29Washington County13.727+4.97 pts
30Appomattox County13.692+3.25 pts
31Spotsylvania County13.553+4.42 pts
32Prince Edward County13.548+2.53 pts
33Bedford County13.361+0.29 pts
34Manassas Park city13.08+2.75 pts
35King George County13.045-2.05 pts
36Clarke County12.863+4.62 pts
37Buckingham County12.816+3.79 pts
38Manassas city12.794+3.07 pts
39Lancaster County12.791-3.27 pts
40Buena Vista city12.729-9.86 pts
41Culpeper County12.645+3.51 pts
42Richmond city12.513+2.08 pts
43Colonial Heights city12.446+1.97 pts
44Brunswick County12.382+2.77 pts
45Lee County12.272-1.74 pts
46Fluvanna County12.266+1 pts
47Charlottesville city12.156-2.89 pts
48Virginia Beach city12.057+2.09 pts
49Alleghany County11.79+2.27 pts
50Greene County11.734+1.14 pts
51Hampton city11.731+2.17 pts
52King and Queen County11.665+3.88 pts
53Prince William County11.549-0.98 pts
54Middlesex County11.521-0.42 pts
55Accomack County11.513+6.22 pts
56Westmoreland County11.483+2.25 pts
57Pittsylvania County11.472+3.79 pts
58New Kent County11.407+3.38 pts
59Buchanan County11.383-2.56 pts
60Falls Church city11.294+2.24 pts
61Floyd County11.264+0.31 pts
62Amelia County11.192+0.77 pts
63Salem city11.158+3.86 pts
64Richmond County11.048+5.15 pts
65Fairfax County11.014-2.46 pts
66Galax city10.938+2.38 pts
67Gloucester County10.893+1.78 pts
68Nottoway County10.873-9.77 pts
69Botetourt County10.786-0.34 pts
70Norfolk city10.777-1.77 pts
71Albemarle County10.714+2.29 pts
72Suffolk city10.677+1.95 pts
73Stafford County10.656-0.25 pts
74Orange County10.617+2.87 pts
75Arlington County10.602-1.63 pts
76Hanover County10.453+2.41 pts
77Shenandoah County10.398+3.42 pts
78Chesapeake city10.391+0.49 pts
79Charlotte County10.344-3.06 pts
80Fairfax city10.332-7.19 pts
81Chesterfield County10.28+0.91 pts
82Loudoun County10.118+0.89 pts
83Pulaski County10.098-0.65 pts
84Halifax County10.031+2.15 pts
85Mecklenburg County9.987-0.96 pts
86Montgomery County9.929-0.44 pts
87Winchester city9.873+2.96 pts
88Franklin city9.864+1.87 pts
89Nelson County9.836-0.46 pts
90Petersburg city9.819-6.6 pts
91Wythe County9.818+1.53 pts
92Fredericksburg city9.75+1.57 pts
93Newport News city9.631+2.11 pts
94Danville city9.625+2.29 pts
95Mathews County9.599-6.09 pts
96Roanoke city9.587+2.42 pts
97York County9.571-0.2 pts
98Franklin County9.569-13.93 pts
99Page County9.558-0.72 pts
100Northumberland County9.537-10.08 pts
101Louisa County9.529+2.1 pts
102Radford city9.449+0.46 pts
103Frederick County9.408+2.7 pts
104Fauquier County9.38-2.07 pts
105Amherst County9.361-1.75 pts
106James City County9.33-0.01 pts
107Grayson County9.134+0.35 pts
108Goochland County9.043-21.59 pts
109Essex County9.023+4.13 pts
109Roanoke County9.023-4.12 pts
111Martinsville city9.014-2.99 pts
112Warren County8.919-0.13 pts
113Dinwiddie County8.82+2.41 pts
114Lynchburg city8.685+1.77 pts
115Isle of Wight County8.602+1.33 pts
116Caroline County8.516-1.56 pts
117Hopewell city8.396-0.8 pts
118Augusta County8.365+0.62 pts
119Smyth County8.293-6.4 pts
120Emporia city8.177+3.02 pts
121Rockingham County7.987+0.69 pts
122Southampton County7.899+0.57 pts
123Williamsburg city7.745-5.12 pts
124Staunton city7.744-7.18 pts
125Powhatan County7.536-4.12 pts
126Surry County7.235+3.16 pts
127Giles County7.065-4.8 pts
128Madison County6.853-15.6 pts
129Lexington city6.615-0.33 pts
130Charles City County6.051-1.16 pts
131Craig County6.045-9.39 pts
132Russell County6.042-3.38 pts
133Bath County4.295-4.84 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, 2017) [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, 2017. 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=2017. 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, 2017. 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=2017.

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, 2017 [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=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2017,
  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, 2017}},
  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=2017. 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, 2017
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=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/virginia-counties?period=2017.
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?

Norton city, with 33.82% in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest job destruction rate?

Bath County, with 4.295% in 2017.

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