For many employers, a capable and talented workforce is the most vital component of their company’ success. Hampton Roads, with a workforce of approximately 850,000, has a talent pipeline like very few other regions in America. The existing labor force is consistently enhanced by graduates from our region’s many colleges and universities as well as military personnel exiting the service and entering the private sector. In fact, more than 15,000 men and women exit the military in Hampton Roads on an annual basis, more than half of whom remain in the region. 13,000+ individuals also graduate from Hampton Roads universities on an annual basis. These groups supplement an already highly trained workforce that can meet the needs of virtually any employer.

The total population in the Hampton Roads region is 1.75 million people, with a labor force of over 850,000. Over the past decade, there has been an increase in population size at 3.1%. The median age of the workforce is 36 years old, with 50% of individuals between the ages of 18 and 55.

Through a combination of career opportunities and high quality of life, the region holds a substantial amount of youthful talent. Not only are we able to curb the drain of local talent, we’ve also been actively attracting outsiders as well. The City of Virginia Beach was named number  the #8 city for net millennial migration in the United States in 2021 in a report produced by SmartAsset.

The region takes its name from the central water body, the Hampton Roads, that ties our communities together. From our ports and naval ships, to our rivers, beaches and thousands of miles of coastline, water is the lifeblood of our community. Just as the roadstead or “roads”  has long served as a safe and protected anchorage for ships, Hampton Roads, as a region, provides a secure location for your business to grow.

Centrally located on the East Coast of the U.S., Hampton Roads has proven to be a premier location for the following industries as demonstrated by the companies that have already established a home here:

Hampton Roads has numerous post secondary institutions, including 12 universities and colleges and 21 trade and technical schools. For an in-depth overview of these organizations, click here.

Hampton Roads has numerous post secondary institutions, including 12 universities and colleges and 21 trade and technical schools. For an in-depth overview of these organizations, click here.