Labor Supply
Labor Draw Area - The Alleghany Highlands labor force area
The Franklin County labor force area - In-Commuting Patterns
WORKFORCE OF 350,000 +
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 22 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 (yellow-orange).
Labor Supply: 340,201
Total Unemployed Persons (3/13): 20,198
Unemployment Rate (3/13): 5.9%
Underemployed Rate (12/12): 12.3%*
Annual High School Graduates: 6,908
Annual Two-year Degree Graduates: 2,492
Annual 4-Year Degree & Higher Graduates: 23,015
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 (3/13)
Labor Force: 71,928 Unemployed: 4,780 Unemployment Rate: 6.6%
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 (3/13)
Labor Force: 273,228 Unemployed: 18,624 Unemployment Rate: 6.8%
The U.S. Census Bureau LEHD Program estimates more than 20,000 people commute to the Roanoke Region each day.
Commuters to Region by Locality
Locality Commuters Bedford County 7,945 Montgomery County 4,881 Henry County 2,118 Lynchburg 1,651 Pulaski County 1,395 Campbell County 1,377 Floyd County 1,217 Augusta County 1,214 Pittsylvania County 982 Bath County 961
*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: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census LEHD 2010, State Council for Higher Education, VA Dept. of Education. January 2012. Virginia Allies Roanoke Valley Underemployment Statistics.
