Talent

A WORKFORCE READY FOR BUSINESS

The Roanoke Region's workforce offers a diversity of skills and knowledge businesses want and need. From workers in advanced manufacturing and life sciences to technical engineers and experienced managers to more than 100,000 students pursuing college degrees, employers have access to a large pool of talent. Several training programs and facilities provide workers with skills in new technologies so your business can keep up with the latest industry developments.

Job seekers of all kinds are entering the labor supply as the region continues to grow and businesses seek labor. It's no wonder that Roanoke was ranked one of the Best Places for Business and Careers by Forbes.com, and as more people choose the region as a place to work and live, businesses in the Roanoke Region will continue to grow and succeed.

LABOR FORCE POPULATION
Roanoke Region Population (2009): 315,092
Labor Area Population: 679,166
Total Labor Supply: 339, 724
Unemployment Rate (1/10): 9.4%
Underemployment Rate: 9.2%

ROANOKE MSA EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Testimony to the well-educated workforce is more than half of the region's population over the age 25 has at least some college education. More than a third has either an associate's degree or bachelor's degree, or both.

Total High School Diploma/GED: 84.2%
At least some college: 52.7%
Associate's or Bachelor's Degree: 23.7%
Graduate/Professional Degree: 7.8%

OCCUPATION DISTRIBUTION

Workers are distributed among a diversity of occupations. The Virginia Employment Commission estimates more than 21,000 jobs will be created between 2006 and 2016, which means an increase in skilled job seekers and businesses seeking workers.

Occupation Title	2006	2016	Diff.
Total	175,752	197,688	+ 21,936
Office, Administrative Support	27,908	31,271	+ 3,363
Sales related	22,021	24,042	+ 2,021
Transportation and Material Moving	16,131	16,995	+ 864
Production	16,604	16,007	-597
Food prep and Serving related	12,728	14,562	+ 1,834
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical	10,622	12,857	+ 2,235
Construction and Extraction	10,681	11,657	+ 976
Education, Training, Library	8,057	9,815	+ 1,758
Installation, Maintenance, Repair	8,108	8,850	+ 742
Business and Financial	7,163	8,808	+ 1,645
Management	5,865	6,541	+ 685
Bldg & Grounds/Cleaning, Maintenance	5,445	6,247	+ 802
Health Care Support	4,610	5,753	+ 1,143
Personal Care and Service	4,540	5,274	+ 734
Computer and Mathematical	3,458	4,704	+ 1,246
Protective Sevice Occupations	3,131	3,723	+592
Community and Social Services	2,276	3,049	+773
Arts, Design, Sports, Media	2,323	2,683	+ 360
Architecture and Engineering	1,988	2,270	+ 282
Life, Physical, and Social Science	916	1,182	+ 266
Legal	929	1,116	+ 187
Farming, Fishing, Forestry	257	282	+ 25

Source: VEC Labor Market Services, Area Profile 2009.