Workforce

Richmond: Virginia's Working Capital

The Richmond region is able to draw from and attract a highly skilled and educated workforce population of over 677,000 from the entire MSA and beyond due to its central location in the commonwealth, large number of major government and businesses located in the city and its significant higher education systems, including the state’s largest university, Virginia Commonwealth University, with a student population of over 30,000.

Below is additional information on the Richmond region's workforce. Learn More 

Average Salary by Occupation

To view a listing of wages for selection occupations, please click here. 

Employment by Industry

To view a chart listing employment numbers by specific industry, please click here. 

Educational Attainment

According to the 2010 Census, 86% of the Richmond MSA population over age 25 has at least a high school education, with a higher than US average for higher education degrees. To view a full chart, please click here.

Workforce Organization

Virginia is the northernmost right-to-work state on the East Coast. It has the 2nd lowest rate of unionization among private sector workers in the nation. About 2.6% of all private sector workers in the Richmond MSA were members of a labor union in 2011.

General Labor Data

Historically, Richmond has enjoyed low levels of unemployment. As of September 2012, the current unemployment rate was 6.2%. For  comparisons between Richmond, Virginia and the USA, please click here.