Workforce Quality
The quality of Hampton Roads' workforce is highly correlated with the region's educational attainment. Hampton Roads has been successful both in providing educational opportunities to its population and in attracting educated workers from other regions. Factors such as proximity to D.C., 15,000 military retirees annually, and 27 colleges, universities and other post-secondary institutions contribute to the educational levels of the workforce.
Why is This Important?
At the time of the 2000 Census, almost 85 percent of the adults in the Hampton Roads region had at least a high school degree. However, in today's dynamic economy, jobs increasingly require education beyond a high school diploma. Whether it is university or college degree, a degree or certificate from a community college, or a technical education certificate earned while in high school, education not only prepares individuals for the tasks required by a job, but it also enhances a person's ability to adapt to new working environments.
How is Hampton Roads Doing?
More than 27 percent of the residents of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area (Hampton Roads MSA) hold at least a Bachelor's degree. (See Educational
Attainment). In addition, the Hampton Roads region has increased the number of community college graduates in recent years, growing from 2,762 graduates in 2000 to 3,785 graduates in 2008. Awards in 2008 also included 2,046 college transfer awards, 1,283 career and technical degrees, and 844 certificates.
Many of the high schools in the Hampton Roads region offer students the chance to prepare for a career by completing career and technical education programs before they graduate. Students can earn state licensees, industry certifications, or pass National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) assessments. In the 2007-2008 school year, the high schools in the Hampton Roads region granted 4,714 such awards, up from 3,781 the previous year.
What Influences Workforce Quality?
The existence of a skilled workforce in a region is an indicator of both the presence of industries that demand skilled workers and a measure of a region's ability to educate or attract skilled workers. Workforce quality can be strengthened by investing in education and by creating a business-friendly environment that attracts knowledge-intensive businesses and the skilled workforce that these businesses employ.
Data Definitions and Sources
Career and technical education programs are, on average, two year programs designed to train technicians, semiprofessional workers, apprentices and skilled crafts persons for employment in industry, business, the professions and government. Such programs are offered in a number of fields from agriculture to health and medicine. For more information on the types of programs and awards offered by the Hampton Roads community colleges, visit the Virginia Community Colleges website.
U.S. Census, Educational Attainment 2000
U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey Educational Attainment For The Population 25 Years And Over
Virginia Department of Education, Office of Career and Technical Education
See the Data Sources and Updates Calendar for a detailed list of the data resources used for indicator measures on Hampton Roads Performs.
