Virginia has recorded one of its worst job-growth performances in recent memory, shedding more than 43,000 net payroll positions over the past twelve months and placing 49th among all states. Roanoke tells a different story. The city’s unemployment rate stands at 3.7%, while neighboring Salem sits even lower at 3.2%, according to reporting by The Roanoke Rambler.
Two forces are driving that local resilience: an influx of foreign and domestic manufacturers selecting the region for new or expanded operations, and a deliberate effort to build a biotech and life-sciences sector.
Manufacturing Leads Regional Job Creation
John Hull, president and CEO of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, told Virginia Business that manufacturing is the clear standout, with the largest job totals and capital investments in 2025 falling in that sector.
The numbers back him up. Defense contractor Elbit Systems of America is putting $30 million into expanding its night-vision goggle plant in Roanoke County, adding 288 positions and pushing total employment at the site past 1,000. HVAC manufacturer Munters is building a 200,000-square-foot addition in Botetourt County for nearly $30 million, expected to yield 270 jobs. In Salem, medical-device maker Integer is adding 83 positions for catheter-component production, and QualiChem is investing $9 million to expand its metalworking-fluids facility…