CITIZEN SATISFACTION SURVEY
CHAPTER 7:
Employment and Commuting
Figure 7-2: Place of Work, 2004
Prince William County
29.8
Fairfax County/ Falls Church
Included in the report once again this year is
some information about employment and
commuting patterns in Prince William County.
We included an elaborate set of questions about
the occupations, employment sector, and
commuting patterns of our respondents. In this
section, we will also detail the characteristics of
commuters by occupation, industry, race,
income, and educational level.
Employment
26.3
District of Columbia
9.5
Arlington
8.9
Stafford County
6.2
Manassas/ Manassas Park
5.8
Alexandria
3.3
Loudon County
2.4
Maryland
2.0
Other
Figure 7-1 shows that the respondents to our
survey hold a variety of statuses in the labor
force. Approximately two-thirds were working
full time; an additional 11 percent were working
part time. Homemakers accounted for 6.5
percent, and 12.3 percent were retired. Students
made up 1.8 percent of the sample, and those
looking for work made up 2.6 percent. These
figures are very similar to last year’s figures.
5.8
0
10
20
30
40
Percentage of Workforce
Occupation and Industry
This year we again asked a series of questions
about the specifics of each respondent’s job.
Almost 35 percent of our respondents said they
had some kind of specialized credential for work
other than a college degree.
Figure 7-1: Employment Status, 2004
Student
Retired
12.3%
1.8%
We also asked respondents several questions
designed to obtain further information about the
Prince William County workforce. First, we
asked respondents their occupation, then the
industry they were part of, and finally their
employment sector. Occupation and industry
were asked as open-ended questions, recorded
verbatim, and subsequently post-coded into
reporting categories by CSR staff.
Other
1.3%
Homemaker
Looking for
Work 2.6%
Working
Part Time
6.5%
11.0%
64.5%
Working Full
Time
About a third of our sample, 29.8 percent, live
and work in Prince William County. Almost 6
percent work in Manassas or Manassas Park.
The remaining 64.4 percent work elsewhere;
26.3 percent of the workforce commute to
Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, or Falls
Church; 8.9 percent work in Arlington and 9.5
percent work in Washington D.C. Figure 7-2
details these findings.
Center for Survey Research
Prince William County workers work in a
variety of settings. Almost half, 46.6 percent,
work in a private company. Approximately 27
percent work for the federal government, and an
additional 2.2 percent work for the state
government. Almost 13 percent work for local
government, while 6 percent work for nonprofit
organizations, and 5.5 percent own their own
business. We also asked employed respondents
whether they worked in particular technology
fields. Three percent of our respondents said
they worked in biotechnology, 3.5 percent in the
manufacturing of computer hardware, 2.9
percent in instrument manufacturing, 2.0 percent
in pharmaceuticals, 8.7 percent in research and
design of software, and 5.9 percent in other
research services.
35
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY
14.5 percent in business financial operations,
and so on. The second column gives the
percentage of the commuting workforce
accounted for by an occupational group.
Commuting
As in previous surveys, we dichotomized
workers into commuters and non-commuters. To
be considered a commuter, a worker needed to
be commuting both outside of Prince William
County or Manassas and Manassas Park, and
have a commute of 30 minutes or longer.
Approximately 50 percent of the employed
respondents met both criteria.
So while office and administrative support
occupations account for 16.7 percent of the total
workforce, they account for 16.6 percent of the
commuting population. Finally, the third column
indicates the percentage of each occupational
group that commutes to work. We can see from
the third column that 57.3 percent of those
working in office and administrative support
occupations commute to work; that is, they work
outside Prince William County, Manassas, and
Manassas Park, and drive longer than 30
minutes to work. Table 7.2 provides the same
information by industry and Table 7.3 by
employment sector.
Commuters and non-commuters are spread
among many occupations, which are detailed in
Table 7.1. The table includes three columns, the
first of which shows the percentage of the
workforce accounted for by a particular
occupation. For instance, 16.7 percent of the
Prince William County workforce is employed
in office and administrative support occupations,
Table 7-1: Occupation of Prince William County Workers, 2004
Occupation
36
Percentage of
PWC Workforce
Office and Administrative Support
16.7
Business Financial Operations
Computer and Mathematical
Percentage of
Commuting
Workforce
Percentage of
Occupation that
Commutes
16.6
57.3
14.5
17.4
69.4
9.1
13.0
82.1
Education, Training, & Library
7.8
4.1
29.9
Sales and Related Occupations
6.9
3.7
30.5
Management
6.6
6.9
68.0
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
4.5
3.9
50.0
Architecture and Engineering
4.0
5.5
79.4
Installation Maintenance and Repair
3.7
3.9
59.4
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media
3.7
3.2
51.6
Protective Service
3.5
3.4
58.6
Military Specific
3.2
4.5
78.6
Food Preparation and Serving
2.8
2.2
45.8
Transportation and Material Moving
2.3
2.0
50.0
Construction and Extraction
2.3
1.4
35.0
Personal Care and Service
2.2
1.2
31.6
Building and Grounds
2.0
1.2
33.3
Life, Physical, & Social Sciences
1.8
2.2
68.8
Community and Social
1.2
1.2
54.5
Legal
1.0
1.2
66.7
Production
.5
.8
100.0
Healthcare Support
.5
.4
40.0
University of Virginia
CITIZEN SATISFACTION SURVEY
Table 7-2: Industry of Prince William County Workers, 2004
Industry
Percentage of
PWC Workforce
Percentage of
Commuting Workforce
Percentage of
Industry that
Commutes
Public Administration
28.9
38.4
76.1
Professional, Scientific, & Technical
13.3
16.3
69.6
Educational Services
10.3
4.5
25.0
Health Care and Social Assistance
7.5
6.3
47.7
Retail Trade
6.1
2.9
26.9
Finance and Insurance
5.7
7.1
71.4
Construction
5.2
3.7
40.9
Other Services (except public admin)
5.0
3.9
44.2
Transportation and Warehousing
5.0
5.3
60.5
Information
3.9
4.1
58.8
Accommodation and Food Services
Administrative and Support and Waste
Management and Remediation Services
Manufacturing
2.9
3.3
61.5
2.3
1.2
30.0
1.2
1.0
50.0
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing
1.0
1.2
66.7
Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation
.9
.2
14.3
Mining
.4
.2
33.3
Wholesale Trade
.2
.2
100.0
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, & Hunting
.1
.2
100.0
Table 7-3: Employment Sectors of Prince William County Workers, 2004
Percentage of PWC
Workforce
Percentage of
Commuting Workforce
Percentage of Sector
that Commutes
Private Company
46.6
44.9
56.0
Federal Government
27.1
38.6
82.6
Local Government
12.7
6.6
30.2
Non-Profit Organization
6.0
5.9
57.4
Own Business
5.5
2.7
28.0
State Government
2.2
1.3
35.0
Employment Sector
Center for Survey Research
37
The average commute time for all Prince
William County workers is 40.1 minutes. For
those who work in Prince William County, the
mean commute time is just over 17 minutes.
Figure 7-3 shows the variation in average
commute time for PWC workers depending on
the part of the County in which they reside. The
longest commute is by North County residents,
at about 53 minutes, while the shortest is in
Sudley/Yorkshire, at about 32 minutes. Figure
7-4 illustrates the trend in overall commute time
from 1999.
Most of our respondents (81.1%) were
commuting to the same place as they were last
year. For about half of those who commuted to
the same workplace from the same home
(55.7%), the commute time had stayed the same
compared to a year ago. However, 41.6 percent
reported that their commute had gotten longer,
while 2.7 percent said it had gotten shorter.
Results are shown in Figure 7-5.
Figure 7-3: Length of Commute by Region,
2004
Lake Ridge/
Westridge/
Occoquan
41.7
Dale City
42.2
Woodbridge/
Dumfries
38.3
2000
2001
40.1
2002
38.3
2003
39.4
2004
40.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Minutes
“I can pick and choose when I
go in, so I go when the traffic
isn't heavy. But if I go during
rush hour, it can take an hour to
get from Woodbridge to Seven
Corners.”
Figure 7-5: Change in Travel Time from Last
Year, 2004
39.7
Sudley/
Yorkshire
Figure 7-4: Average Commute Time, 20002004
Gotten
Shorter
2.7%
32.3
North
County
Gotten
Longer
52.9
Gainesville/
Linton Hall
44.5
41.6%
Brentsville
55.7%
40.0
M idCounty
41.7
0
10
20
30
40
Stayed the
Same
50
60
Minutes
38
University of Virginia
CITIZEN SATISFACTION SURVEY
At the request of the County, we examined in
more detail the socio-economic characteristics of
commuters. Residents with higher income were
more likely to be commuters than were those
with lower incomes. There was also a
significant difference among ethnic groupings,
with African Americans more likely to be
commuters than those with other ethnic
backgrounds. No difference was found based on
educational level.
The county was also interested in where
commuters’ jobs were located for each
geographic area of the County. Most commuters
are traveling to the Fairfax/Falls Church,
Arlington, and Washington DC areas. This
information is detailed in Table 7-4 for
commuters and Table 7-5 for both commuters
and non-commuters together.
Center for Survey Research
Telecommuting
We also asked employed respondents about
telecommuting. The question asked, “A
telecommuter is someone who spends a whole
day or more per week working at home or at a
telecommuting center closer to home, instead of
going to their main place of work. Do you ever
telecommute or telework?” 19.3 percent of our
employed respondents said they did
telecommute. This was a significant increase
from last year’s number of 15.7. Those who
said they telecommute were asked how often
they did: 7.8 percent said they telecommute all
the time, 25.2 percent said they telecommute
several times a week, 21.6 percent several times
a month, 26.6 percent once or twice a month,
and 18.7 percent several times a year.
39
Table 7-4: Percent Job Location of Commuters by Residence Area, 2004
Woodbridge/
Dumfries
DaleCity
Lake Ridge/
Westridge/
Occoquan
Stafford County
11.8
13.0
10.3
-
9.1
2.3
-
5.9
Fredericksburg/ Spotsy
1.0
3.3
2.3
-
-
4.7
-
-
Fauquier/ Warrenton
2.9
1.1
-
6.7
-
2.3
16.7
3.9
Job Location
Sudley/
Gainesville/
NorthCounty
Yorkshire
Linton
Brentsville
MidCounty
Loudon County
2.0
4.3
1.1
10.0
13.6
4.7
-
3.9
Fairfax/ Falls Church
36.3
42.4
33.3
46.7
54.5
65.1
33.3
51.0
Arlington
18.6
10.9
17.2
10.0
18.2
9.3
-
11.8
Alexandria
2.9
9.8
6.9
-
-
-
16.7
3.9
Other Virginia
1.0
-
-
3.3
-
4.7
-
-
Washington, DC
16.7
13.0
19.5
13.3
-
4.7
33.3
17.6
Maryland
3.9
1.1
4.6
6.7
-
2.3
-
-
Another location
2.0
1.1
4.6
-
4.5
-
-
2.0
Work all over
1.0
-
-
3.3
-
-
-
-
Table 7-5: Percent Job Location of Commuters and Non-Commuters by Residence Area, 2004
Woodbridge/
Dumfries
DaleCity
Lake Ridge/
Westridge/
Occoquan
Manassas
33.3
29.4
28.9
25.0
23.3
Manassas Park
0.6
3.3
1.5
19.1
3.3
Stafford County
1.7
0.7
-
-
Fredericksburg/ Spotsy
8.6
8.5
6.7
Fauquier/ Warrenton
0.6
2.0
Loudon County
1.7
0.7
Fairfax/ Falls Church
1.1
Arlington
Alexandria
Job Location
Sudley/
Gainesville/
NorthCounty
Yorkshire
Linton
Brentsville
MidCounty
23.4
53.3
32.6
6.5
6.7
8.1
-
3.9
-
-
-
6.7
1.3
-
3.5
1.5
-
-
2.6
-
-
-
4.4
-
1.3
6.7
2.3
3.9
0.7
4.4
10.0
2.6
-
2.3
23.0
26.1
23.7
29.4
40.0
41.6
13.3
30.2
10.9
7.2
11.9
5.9
13.3
5.2
-
7.0
Other Virginia
1.7
7.2
4.4
-
-
-
6.7
2.3
Washington, DC
1.1
-
-
1.5
-
2.6
-
-
Maryland
9.8
8.5
13.3
5.9
-
1.3
-
10.5
Another location
2.3
0.7
3.7
2.9
-
-
13.3
-
Work all over
2.9
1.3
3.7
-
3.3
3.9
-
1.2
40
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