WORKFORCE & TALENT

Virginia was selected Number 1 in the U.S. for Customized Workforce Trainings in the 2023 Business Facilities Magazine State Ranking Report and the Shenandoah Valley offers a wealth of resources and programs to support workforce development.

The Shenandoah Valley is home to 10 colleges and universities. High academic standards, new technologies, and the application of classroom learning to real-world situations prepare graduates to enter the job market as educated and skilled professionals.

The award-winning InDemand Jobs Campaign markets high-demand, high-growth and high-wage occupations and accompanying educational opportunities, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board and WHSV-TV3. Highlighted occupations require further education after high school, but not necessarily a four-year degree. Click here to view examples of in-demand occupations and corresponding training programs.

The region’s 9,000 annual graduates strengthen the workforce and enrich the cultural vitality of our community. Additionally, Shenandoah Valley businesses recruit prospective employees from our neighboring institutions including, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and Shenandoah University.

The Shenandoah Valley’s high-density of educational institutions and partners create collaborative workforce solutions. Merck recently announced an investment of up to $1 billion thanks to a collaboration between Blue Ridge Community College and James Madison University to develop their future talent pipeline. The two institutions are creating curriculum and training programs centered on biotechnology, process engineering and workforce development. Click here to read Virginia Business’ recent highlight of this collaborative initiative. In 2018, The Hershey Company Boot Camp was developed in partnership with the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board as an innovative tool to increase the retention and quality of production line hires.

Click here to read how this Boot Camp develops workforce for the sweetest jobs in the Shenandoah Valley. 

Registered Apprenticeship is a time-tested educational method that combines on-the-job training and one-on-one mentoring with theoretical instruction to teach the whys and hows of job performance. To create an apprenticeship program or add an occupation to an existing program, Shenandoah Valley companies contact our partners at the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board to provide technical support for program design, instruction alternatives, and enrollment processing. Hear what regional companies; including Innovative Refrigeration Systems, Inc.; Riddleberger Brothers, Inc.; F.R. Drake Company; and Design Electric, Inc; have to say about how registered apprenticeships have proven to be a successful workforce solution for their businesses. 

To explore investing in this region, contact our Shenandoah Valley Partnership team.

Connecting Job Seekers with Workforce Needs through InDemand Jobs Campaign

 

  • Occupation: Commercial Truck Driver
    Training: Blue Ridge Community College
    10-Year Job Outlook: 4% increase (average growth)
    Median Salary 2023: $54,320
    View Segment
  • Occupation: Licensed Practical Nurse
    Training: Massanutten Technical Center
    10-Year Job Outlook: 5% (faster than average)
    Median Salary: $59,730
    View Segment

  • Occupation: Diesel Technician
    Training: Valley Career & Technical Center
    10-Year Job Outlook: 1% (steady)
    Median Salary: $58,970
    View Segment

  • Occupation: HVAC Technician
    Training: Valley Career & Technical Center
    10-Year Job Outlook: 6% (faster than average)
    Median Salary: $57,300
    View Segment

  • Occupation: CNC Technician
    Training: Blue Ridge Community College
    10-Year Job Outlook: 0% change (stable)
    Median Salary: $53,180
    View Segment

  • Occupation: Electrician
    Training: Massanutten Technical Center
    10-Year Job Outlook: 6% (faster than average)
    Salary: $61,590
    View Segment

  • Occupation: Mechatronics Technician
    Training: Blue Ridge Community College
    10-Year Demand: 65
    Salary: $37,424 – $57,610
    View Segment

  • Occupation: Dental Assistant
    Training: Massanutten Technical Center
    10-Year Demand: 58
    Salary: $27,500 – $51,300
    View Segment

  • Occupation: Aircraft Mechanic
    Training: Blue Ridge Community College
    10-Year Demand: 99
    Salary: $35,000 – $55,000
    View Segment

  • Occupation: Plumber
    Training: Massanutten Technical Center
    10-Year Demand: 963
    Salary: $30,100 – $54,400
    View Segment

  • Occupation: Cyber Security Engineer
    Training: Blue Ridge Community College
    10-Year Demand: 156
    Salary: $36,500 – $65,700
    View Segment

  • Occupation: Maintenance Mechanic
    Training: Massanutten Technical Center
    10-Year Demand: 1,490
    Salary: $37,400 – $65,200
    View Segment

  • Occupation: Commercial Pilot
    Training: Blue Ridge Aviation
    10-Year Demand: 114
    Salary: $48,600 – $110,400
    View Segment

  • Occupation: Welder
    Training: Blue Ridge Community College
    10-Year Demand: 770
    Salary: $29,597 – $50,700
    View Segment
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