2019 Commuter Workforce Skills Study
Utilizing census data from 2017, the updated Commuter Skills Study by Dr. Lance Gentry with the Center for Business Research at the University of Mary Washington builds upon the previous study completed in 2016 using 2013 data.
Summary of Key Findings:
- Total Regional Workforce increased from 177,400 in 2013 to 196,776.
- The Workforce Participation Rate in the region dropped slightly to 68.4% but compares very favorably to the Virginia average of 65.3 and the 62.8% average nationally.
- Commuting population increased to 42.2% of the workforce, up from 37% in the previous study but total jobs within the region also increased to 133,000.
- Education attainment levels (Associate’s Degree or Higher) for both non-commuters (51%) and commuters (55%) are above the state average (47.6%), an improvement over the previous study.
- While the median age of commuters increased to 47 years, the non-commuter median remained the same at 42 from the previous study.
- Given these findings it is clear that the region continues to be an attractive destination for those participating in the workforce, which has become the number one location factor for companies looking to locate or expand.
Read the Full 2019 Study Here
2016 Commuter Workforce Skills Study
In 2016, the Regional Commuter Workforce Skills Study was completed by the University of Mary Washington (UMW) Center for Business Research, which provides both an overview of the region’s workforce skills and also in-depth data for businesses interested in expanding or relocating to the Region.
Summary of Key Findings
- The estimated number of commuters is 61,639.
- More than half of all commuters estimate that it takes at least one hour to get to work each day.
- Commuters tend to have higher levels of education than non-commuters.
- More than half of all commuters work in the Targeted Industry Clusters for the Fredericksburg Region.
- Commuters have higher average income than non-commuters at every level of education.
- Commuters are much more likely to have military experience (active duty or National Guard) than non-commuters (28% versus 12%).
Commuter Fields of Study
Commuter Employment Type
