Rewarding Work

Work should lead somewhere.

Rewarding work is a key driver of economic mobility. When jobs provide stability and room to advance, people can plan for the future — and the whole region grows stronger.

The conditions that support rewarding work.

Strengthening this driver depends on:

Two people wearing safety glasses examine and test equipment in a laboratory setting filled with electronic devices and control panels. One person points while the other closely observes the instrument.

Access to stable employment.

Two women sit at a desk having a conversation in an office setting. One woman faces the camera, smiling and listening attentively, while the other woman has her back to the camera and gestures with her hands.

Wages that support long-term financial security.

Six people sit around a table with books, notebooks, and a phone, working together and taking notes. The scene is viewed from above on a red carpeted floor.

Clear pathways for career growth and advancement.

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Alignment between workforce training & employer needs.

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Support for entrepreneurship and small business growth.

Four students sit together at a table in a library, smiling and working on notebooks and papers. Books, a tablet, and a laptop are scattered across the table, suggesting a collaborative study session.

Reducing barriers to workforce participation

Why it matters in our region.

Intergenerational mobility is declining.

Economic mobility in the Richmond region is declining for younger generations.
Young adults born in 1992 from low-income families are earning 8% less than those born in 1972 — a steeper decline than the national average.
Work is one of the clearest pathways to long-term mobility. When upward pathways weaken, opportunity narrows across generations.

Three college students walk down outdoor steps in front of a school building, carrying books and backpacks. They are smiling and appear to be enjoying each others company on a sunny day. — Young adults from low-income families in the Richmond region are earning less than their predecessors, signaling weakened pathways to upward mobility.

A diverse group of people sit and talk at a long wooden table in a bright, modern building, with glass walls and various materials visible in the background. Some are listening, while one person gestures as they speak. — RVA Rising’s region has twice as many bachelor’s degree holders as jobs requiring a degree — the widest credential surplus among benchmark regions.

Richmond has talent — but opportunity is misaligned.

Richmond is not lacking talent.

Only 21.6% of job openings require a bachelor’s degree or higher, yet 43.3% of working-age residents hold one. For every one job requiring a degree, there are two people who have earned one.

This points to a demand-side challenge. The issue is not whether residents are pursuing education but whether the economy is creating enough jobs that fully use their skills.

When workers cannot access jobs that match their credentials, they may experience underemployment: working in roles that do not fully use their education. This can mean lower wages, slower advancement, and reduced long-term mobility.

Workforce alignment matters.

Certification data shows a similar pattern.

Richmond faces a creative–technical imbalance. In some fields — such as Arts and Media — the region has a surplus of certified workers relative to job openings. In others — including STEM, construction, and administrative roles — shortages persist.

These imbalances can contribute to underemployment in some sectors while limiting growth in others.

Two scientists in lab coats and safety glasses work at a laboratory bench. One is holding a test tube near a Bunsen burner flame while the other observes, both smiling. Lab equipment and a whiteboard are in the background. — Richmond shows a significant arts/media certification surplus alongside shortages in STEM and middle-skill occupations.

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How this connects to the bigger picture.

Rewarding Work is shaped by the broader conditions that influence opportunity.

Educational pathways prepare workers for advancement. Stable and inclusive neighborhoods support consistent workforce participation. Access to health care affects whether individuals can sustain employment over time. Responsive systems help remove barriers and align efforts across sectors.

Mobility expands when these conditions work together.

Strengthening rewarding work.

Strengthening rewarding work requires more than preparing individuals for jobs. It requires creating clear pathways for advancement, aligning opportunity with talent, and reducing barriers to participation.

This is long-term work that depends on collaboration across sectors.

When opportunity is aligned and accessible, rewarding work becomes a true pathway to economic mobility.

Four students sit together at a table in a library, smiling and working on schoolwork with notebooks, paper, and a laptop and tablet in front of them. Bookshelves are visible in the background.

Explore other drivers.

Rewarding Work is one of several drivers that shape economic mobility. Learn more about the others.

Quality Education

Stable and Inclusive Neighborhoods

Accessible Health Care

3409 W Moore St, Richmond, VA 23230