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Fairfax NOVA Advantage

Workforce & Demographics

Fast Facts

1 in 4

Jobs in NOVA is Within or Adjacent to the Tech Industry

Fairfax County EDA
51.1%

Of FFX NOVA Population Identifies as Asian, African American or Another Race

Fairfax County EDA
500,000

Population Growth in the Washington D.C. Region from 2010-2020 (with Northern Virginia Experiencing the Largest Growth)

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
3.4M

Workforce in Washington, D.C., Region

U.S. Department of Labor Statistics

Reimagine the Possibilities

Skilled & Diverse Talent: The Fairfax NOVA Advantage

Few places in the world offer the magnitude and depth of the Fairfax NOVA workforce — a regional highly-skilled and diverse labor pool of 6 million people. More than 65 percent of the Fairfax NOVA population holds a bachelor’s degree or higher; over 50 percent of the region’s population identifies as Asian, African American or another race; and nearly 40 percent of the population speaks at least one foreign language. Northern Virginia’s diverse demographics are also on full display in terms of business ownership.

More than 18,000 tech degrees and certificates are awarded annually across the region in one of the highest tech talent concentrations in the U.S. Fairfax NOVA’s strategic location close to Washington, D.C.  only adds to the availability of talent with in-demand skills across industries.

Talent that Speaks Your Language

A group of diverse young people stand around a worktable and smile up at the camera.Whether you’re a company like Hilton or Volkswagen that depends on Fairfax NOVA’s high concentration of dual language speakers or an international firm looking to find your home among 440+ other foreign owned businesses, Northern Virginia speaks your language for talent. Over 50% of the population identifies as Asian, African American or another race, with some of the most culturally diverse cities in the nation spread throughout the region. Additionally, more than 50,000 are employed by 5,000 Women-Owned Firms in Fairfax NOVA.

Where the Future of Tech Skills are Born

George Mason University campus in Fairfax, Virginia.World class talent is right at your fingertips in Fairfax NOVA, with more than 60 higher education institutions shaping the region’s technically inclined talent. The Washington D.C. region stands as the fourth-ranked area in the nation for tech talent, thanks in part to institutions like George Mason University, Virginia’s largest university by enrollment. George Mason offers a comprehensive list of 200+ degree programs with a strong emphasis on technology and public policy. Northern Virginia Community College, with its enrollment exceeding 80,000 students, also contributes significantly to the talent pool through its extensive offering of over 100 associate degrees and certificate programs.