Target Industries & Occupations

Virginia Blue Ridge is a diverse region with various industries represented in the regional economy. Over the next ten years, specific industries have been identified as target and emerging industries for the region:

Industry Cluster	Total Jobs (2015)	Total Jobs (2020)	Projected Annual Job Growth (2022-2027)
Existing Target Industries
Health Care and Social Assistance	27,607	28596	0.3%
Manufacturing	17,362	16,469	-0.5%
Transportation and Warehousing	9,338	8,778	0.5%
Educational Services	11,946	11,609	0.2%
Construction	10,632	10,675	-0.3%
Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services	8,251	8,289	0.5%
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	2,502	3,079	2%
Emerging Target Industries
Accommodation and Food Services	13,434	12,767	1.3%
Information Technology	4,956	4,450	0.9%

Within those industries, there are occupations that are projected to be in higher demand over the course of the next decade. Learn more about these occupations below, including local businesses in need of qualified employees, click on any of the occupation names to access our local fact sheet. To learn more about the target industries and additional occupations that are predicted to grow in the next decade, click on any of the industry names.

Target Industries
Healthcare & Social Assistance	Manufacturing	Transportation & Warehousing	Educational Services	Construction	Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services	Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation
Registered Nurses	Team Assemblers	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	Elementary School Teachers	Laborers	Software Developers	Exercise Trainers & Group Fitness Instructors
Nursing Assistants	First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers	Laborers	Teaching Assistants	Carpenters	Lawyers	Amusement Attendants
Personal Care Aides	Paper Goods Machine Operators	Light Truck Drivers	Secondary School Teachers	Electricians	Accountants	Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurses	Laborers	Postal Service Mail Carriers	Substitute Teachers	First Line Supervisors of Workers	Management Analysts	Waiters & Waitresses
Medical Assistants	Woodworking Machine Operators	Passenger Vehicle Drivers	Middle School Teachers	Plumbers & Pipefitters	Paralegals & Legal Assistants	Coaches & Scouts
Home Health Aides	Inspectors & Testers	Industrial Truck & Tractor Operations	Janitors & Cleaners	Operating Engineers	Computer Systems Analysts	Receptionists & Information Clerks
Receptionists & Information Clerks	Electrical Assemblers	First Line Supervisors of Workers	Passenger Vehicle Drivers	HVAC Mechanics & Installers	Personal Service Managers	Recreation Workers
Medical Secretaries & Administrative Assistants	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	Stockers & Order Fillers	Secretaries & Administrative Assistants	Construction Managers	Computer User Support Specialists	Musicians & Singers
Substance Abuse, Behavioral, & Mental Health Counselors	Machinists	Bus, Truck, & Diesel Engine Specialists	Education Administrators	Office Clerks	Office Clerks	Writers & Authors
Childcare Workers	Sales Representatives	Dispatchers	Office Clerks	Painters & Maintenance	Bookkeeping & Accounting	Childcare Workers

Emerging Industries
Accommodation & Food Services	Information Technology
Fast Food and Counter Workers	Software Developers
Waiters & Waitresses	Electrical Assemblers
Restaurant Cooks	Computer User Support Specialists
First Line Supervisors of Production and Service Workers	Computer Systems Analysts
Fast Food Cooks	General & Operations Managers
Cashiers	Sales Representatives
Food Preparation Workers	Management Analysts
Hosts & Hostesses	Computer & Information Systems Managers
Maids & Housekeeping	Information Security Analysts
Dishwashers	Software Quality Analysts & Testers

For more information, please contact us today!

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