Labor Supply
Labor Draw Area - The Alleghany Highlands labor force area
The Franklin County labor force area - In-Commuting Patterns
WORKFORCE OF 300,000 +
Companies in the Roanoke Region draw from over 300,000 workers within a 60-mile radius. Workers in the area are educated, skilled, and productive. And with 20 colleges and more than 100,000 students pursuing degrees in the region, new members of the workforce bring the skills and knowledge needed for industries in the 21st century.
The Roanoke Region labor supply includes the immediate region (orange) as well as Bedford City and County, Lexington, Buena Vista, Rockbridge County, Montgomery County, Pulaski County, Floyd County, Martinsville, Patrick County, and Henry County (green).
Labor Supply: 344,332
Total Unemployed Persons (12/11): 23,803
Unemployment Rate (12/11): 6.9%
Underemployed Rate (9/11): 9.6%*
Annual High School Graduates: 6,908
Annual Two-year Degree Graduates: 1,904
Annual 4-Year Degree & Higher Graduates: 14,319
Absenteeism: 2.8%
The Alleghany Highlands labor force area consists of the cities of Buena Vista, Covington and Lexington; the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig and Rockbridge, and the West Virginia counties of Greenbrier, Monroe, and Pocahontas.
Alleghany Highlands Labor Force (12/11)
Labor Force: 74,738 Unemployed: 5,410 Unemployment Rate: 7.2%
The Franklin County labor force area consists of the cities of Bedford, Martinsville, Roanoke and Salem; the counties of Bedford, Botetourt, Franklin, Henry, Patrick and Roanoke, and the North Carolina county of Rockingham.
Franklin County Labor Force (12/11)
Labor Force: 274,929 Unemployed: 21,368 Unemployment Rate: 7.7%
The Virginia Employment Commission estimates more than 15,000 people commute to the Roanoke Region each day.
Commuters to Region by Locality
Locality Commuters Bedford County 8,977 Montgomery County 3,463 Floyd County 1,329 Greenbrier County, WV 674 Henry County 479 Pulaski County 440 Pittsylvania County 326 Radford City 319 Bath County 289 Rockbridge County 272
*Underemployment rates are estimated by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) each quarter based off data reported by the BLS. Underemployed individuals are not counted by the BLS officially; however, the VEDP determines rates of underemployment based on five classifications: 1. Discouraged Workers; 2. Marginally Attached Workers; 3. Part-time Workers for Economic Reasons; 4. Multiple Job Holders; 5. Underutilized Workers.
Sources: VEC, US Census, State Council for Higher Education, VA Dept. of Education.North Carolina Employment Security Commission, Workforce WV. December 2011. Virginia Allies Roanoke Valley Underemployment Statistics, Virginia Allies Underemployment Statistic Methodology pdf.
