Virginia Governor's Race 2017: Candidates On Job Creation

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Virginia's primary election is a week away, and the candidates running for governor have spoken on a wide variety of issues. It's no surprise that jobs are discussed so often.

Jobs and the economy are often cited as the most crucial issues in elections, and that has never been more true for Northern Virginia as national implications factor in. President Trump's proposed budget downsizes the federal government workforce, which would impact a Northern Virginia region that's heavily dependent on government jobs.

But around Virginia, economic recovery and job growth have been sluggish for a while. A report released at the end of 2016 showed Virginia's economic growth hasn't been as strong as the national average since the Great Recession.

As of April, the unemployment rate is down to 3.8 percent, but some areas are still struggling more than others. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that Northern Virginia unemployment is low, but some counties down south and on the Eastern Shore are not in the same boat. Unemployment is especially higher in the Southwest, where economic growth is suffering.

Here's a look at how the top five candidates stand on getting more Virginians to work, beginning with the Republicans, in alphabetical order:

Ed Gillespie

The former chair of the Republican National Committee says that more conservative policies on government spending and regulations are the keys to creating more jobs. Gillespie's tax cut plan has been the focal point of his campaign, calling for tax cuts across the board for all Virginians. His campaign site estimates that the plan would create 50,000 full-time jobs over five years in the private sector.

He told NBC12 in Richmond he would cut the tax rate by 10 percent, if the state budget could allow for it. "Bringing down that top individual tax rate will help us foster long term job creation," he told NBC12.

Corey Stewart

Stewart, the anti-establishment candidate that has aligned himself with Trump, has been swept into the spotlight for his fierce opposition to removing Confederate symbols. Still he talks about jobs and government spending often. He touts his work as Prince William Board of Supervisors chair on reducing regulations to boost the business climate. His campaign site states, "Corey will focus business growth in Virginia by significantly reducing taxes to compete with other states like North Carolina – bringing jobs back to the Commonwealth."

He has spoken about more specific state budget numbers during interviews and campaign events. He told NBC12 in Richmond, "We have to cut about 4.39 percent of the state's budget that will allow us to reduce income taxes in Virginia by 17 percent, giving Virginians thousands of dollars more. And it will help to bring in so many more jobs."

Frank Wagner

Unlike his Republican opponents, the state senator has not proposed tax cuts as a means to bring back jobs. His approach has focused more on workforce development and improving Virginia's roadways to stimulate economic growth. Wagner also boasts his experience owning a manufacturing business and fighting against government regulations.

He has especially focused on the woes of the Southwest region, stating on his campaign site, "A priority for Frank is constructing Interstate 73 and the Coal Fields Expressway in order to create more jobs in Southside and Southwest Virginia."

Ralph Northam

Focuses of Lt. Gov. Northam's campaign have been workforce development, child care, paid leave, a $15 minimum wage and free community college. He told WVTF Public Radio that workforce training is key to reducing unemployment, especially in the south, southwest and Eastern Shore regions. He told the radio station of his community college proposal, "And actually, my plan starts with about $37 million of investment, but in 5 years it ends up paying for itself because those people will now have higher-paying jobs and that will bring in more tax revenue.”

But he has showed support for balancing the budget to create a more business-friendly climate. His campaign website states, "He was in the Virginia Senate when the Great Recession hit, and he voted to cut spending by $4.6 billion to keep our budget balanced. He also supported tax relief for Virginia homeowners."

Tom Perriello

The former Congressman believes more can be done for different regions, from the Southwest to Northern Virginia. He has promised to support new industries, particularly environmentally friendly ones. He told NBC12 in Richmond, "We could be creating tens of thousands of jobs, good paying jobs across Virginia, if we took that $6.7 billion, even a fraction of it, and put it into weatherization of homes and buildings, put it into wind and solar, put it into refurbishing the infrastructure that already exists, including making existing pipelines go two ways."

Another facet of his campaign looks at worker pay, as he notes the high cost of living in Northern Virginia. Like Northam, he has expressed support for proposals like a $15 minimum wage, paid leave and free community college.

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What do you think the next governor of Virginia should do to create jobs and reduce unemployment? Let us know in the comments.

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