Talent Profile
With an excellent highway system and an area commute averaging 25 minutes for as many miles, companies in the Gateway Region have access to a labor force of more than 730,000. This workforce pool is well-prepared and sourced from the entire Richmond MSA, parts of the Hampton Roads MSA and graduates from universities and colleges around Virginia. The diverse economy and strong employer base create a stable economic and workforce environment locally relative to the nation as a whole. Wages are lower than the national average and growing as a result of investment from new and existing businesses, resulting in a 6.6% employment growth (+14,897 people) between 2013 and 2017.
Demographics
Race & Ethnicity
Age Group Distribution Source: U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013-2017 American Community Survey (five-year estimates).Workforce profile
Labor Force Summary
| Community | Labor Force | Unemployment Rate |
| City of Colonial Heights | 8,849 | 4.1% |
| City of Hopewell | 9,931 | 6.1% |
| City of Petersburg | 13,392 | 7.3% |
| Chesterfield County | 183,860 | 3.6% |
| Dinwiddie County | 13,588 | 4.5% |
| Prince George County | 15,149 | 4.4% |
| Surry County | 3,708 | 4.5% |
| Sussex County | 3,917 | 5.9% |
| Gateway Region | 252,394 | 4.1% |
| Virginia | 4,307,753 | 3.8% |
| United States | 160,320,000 | 4.4% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Current Population Survey, 2017 annual data (not seasonally adjusted).
Unemployment Rates
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Current Population Survey, 2013-2017 annual data (not seasonally adjusted).Graduates Entering Workforce
| Area | Certificates and 2-Year Degrees | 4-Year Degrees | Post-Graduate Degrees | Total Higher Education Degrees |
| Gateway Region | 2,563 | 867 | 114 | 3,544 |
| Workforce Draw Area | 6,437 | 10,410 | 3,865 | 20,712 |
Source: JobsEQ, 2016-2017 Academic Year.
Employment by Industry
Source: JobsEQ, Second Quarter of 2018 (preliminary estimates excluded).Top Industries Employment & Wages
| Industry (NAICS) | Workforce Area Employment | Average Annual Wages | National Average Annual Wages |
| Health Care and Social Assistance (62) | 106,147 | $49,944 | $50,785 |
| Retail Trade (44) | 78,331 | $28,476 | $31,859 |
| Educational Services (61) | 65,702 | $43,118 | $49,657 |
| Accommodation and Food Services (72) | 63,781 | $18,186 | $21,489 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56) | 51,376 | $36,823 | $39,293 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54) | 47,629 | $80,676 | $92,237 |
| Construction (23) | 46,566 | $52,924 | $57,438 |
Source: JobsEQ, Second Quarter of 2018 (preliminary estimates excluded).
Annual Exiting Military in Workforce Draw Area
| Occupation (Standard Occupation Code) | Average Annual Exits |
| Stock Clerks and Order Fillers (43-5081) | 53 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (35-2012) | 45 |
| Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers (49-1011) | 40 |
| Logisticians (13-1081) | 36 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (49-3023) | 33 |
| Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (49-3011) | 29 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers (53-7072) | 24 |
| Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer (53-3032) | 21 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics (29-2041) | 18 |
| HR Assistants, Except Payroll & Timekeeping (43-4161) | 17 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other (39-9099) | 15 |
| Installation, Maintenance & Repair Workers (49-9099) | 15 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters (47-5031) | 14 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers (33-3051) | 13 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (49-3042) | 11 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (11-3071) | 8 |
| Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers (49-2021) | 7 |
| Interpreters and Translators (27-3091) | 4 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics (49-9041) | 4 |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other (43-2099) | 3 |
| Total, Including All other | 651 |
Source: JobsEQ, Fiscal Year 2016-17.