“One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation.” – Fred “Mister” Rogers

In a recent Blue Ridge Business Journal article titled “Region’s IT Workers in Short Supply,” by Deborah Nason, the story suggests that local business owners do not feel the candidate pool is large enough to fill the staffing demand for skilled IT workers in the region. To support this argument, a Blacksburg-based company’s primary reason for relocating to one of three areas (NOVa, Charlotte or Richmond) is because of the larger labor pool.

On the flip side, I have experienced numerous times, the number of young professionals in the region say that there are not any job opportunities in the region and thus they move to locations with more opportunities – you guessed it – NOVa, Charlotte or Richmond.

Why are these two groups not connecting in Southwest Virginia? What bridge can be created to foster these relationships so that more companies and individuals stay in the region?

The Roanoke and New River Valley has 42,000 students enrolled in its colleges and universities. That equates to roughly 8,000 – 10,000 graduates per year. Virginia Tech ranks nationally has one of the best engineering and technology schools. Why are so many leaving this region and going elsewhere when a survey of students participating in the Virginia Tech Pamplin Department of Management internship program showed that 62 percent of students who performed a local internship while an undergraduate student suggested that they would stay in the region with that firm if a full-time opportunity existed?

At the university level, there are two distinct views on the career placement of graduates. First, deans/department heads typically want students to gain employment with large, multinational firms, which builds the college or department’s reputation in its field. Thus, employment with local firms does not provide the same image boost.

Conversely, economic development and outreach representatives fulfilling the land-grant mission of Virginia Tech may suggest that retaining a larger portion of students who come from across the Commonwealth and other parts of the world may aid economic development efforts in the Roanoke and New River Valleys.

Most of the jobs mentioned would range in annual salaries between $20,000 and $50,000. It is my opinion that this job segment is not being adequately served in the Roanoke and New River Valleys by the following groups:

· Outplacement Firms – typically deal with highly paid executives as part of termination, or are extremely costly for the average worker.

· Executive Recruiters – typically will not place jobs for firms at less than $50,000 in starting salary, plus, is a company willing to pay 20-30% of an annual salary of $30,000 for a recent graduate?

· Temp Agencies – typically lower skilled/hourly workers for a limited amount of time

· Virginia Employment Commission – typically help those who file for unemployed benefits in low-wage jobs

· Online Sites/Media – poor success rate (less than 10%) and a passive way to make connections

· Word-of-Mouth – best way to get jobs (70% get jobs through networking), but most younger people are not connected

· University Career Services – typically only deal with graduating college students and with companies located out of the region

How can this issue be resolved?

This blog will be used as a bridge between people wanting jobs in the Roanoke and New River Valleys and firms needing qualified candidates. I would ask all readers to pass along these contents to friends, collegaues and anyone you know who is intersted in employment in this region.