Job Searching? Consider a Career in Lynchburg, VA
If you’re looking for a job, narrow your search to Lynchburg, VA. This city is a hot spot for career opportunities, as it is home to flourishing industries, like nuclear engineering, manufacturing, health care and social assistance, retail trade and higher education. And within these industries are a variety of jobs – think positions for engineers, doctors, marketing managers and account executives, to name a few.
Lynchburg, VA, Makes Job Searching Easier
While many jobs can be found in Lynchburg, VA, the city works to help people find the right one for them. A great resource is the Lynchburg Office of Economic Development and Tourism’s LYH Jobs Portal, which acts as a one-stop shop, collating job listings from different sites, such as Indeed and Monster, and offering users access without requiring login information. If job seekers wish to apply, they follow a link to the original posting.
“We also offer resources that connect folks to our local workforce network, which are state and local agencies that provide job seeker services, as well as wraparound support, such as transportation or child care,” says Alisha Meador, economic development manager for the Lynchburg Office of Economic Development and Tourism.
Meador says area employers often have long-tenured employees, meaning the job you find here might just be with that perfect company where you can grow in your career for years to come.
“Because we have such density in areas like manufacturing, health care and education, there’s a lot of opportunity for shared resources and upward mobility between employers,” Meador says.
Delta Star, a manufacturer of substations and transformers for utility companies, is the perfect example of an employer with many loyal employees, and it’s easy to see why. The company prides itself on providing fulfilling jobs and potential promotions.
“We hire subject matter experts and trust them to help us move forward,” says Amber Kane, talent acquisition manager for Delta Star. “Many employees have been with the company for decades, progressing in their roles to leading their own teams.”
Companies and Organizations Offer Workforce Training
Delta Star also invests in its future workforce by offering programs such as tuition reimbursement. Nick Jensen, an engineering manager at Delta Star, is a recipient of such a program. He grew up in Reston, VA with engineering aspirations, which is why he was initially attracted to Delta Star’s tuition reimbursement program.
“I liked the ability to work locally during college, have my tuition paid for and then have a job after I graduated,” Jensen says.
In addition to Delta Star, local nonprofit Beacon of Hope, which works to inspire and invest in youth, has the Career Acceleration Program, which helps high school graduates explore skilled trades, find internships or return to school after having taken a break.
Virginia Scott, Beacon of Hope’s director of communications and development, says the cornerstone of the organization’s programming is its Future Centers, or hubs inside high schools that work alongside counseling centers.
“Before students graduate from high school, they need to have a plan,” Scott says. “And we really want to make sure that that plan is sustainable, that the plan includes a career that has some type of upward mobility, and honestly, is able to feed back into the Lynchburg economy.”
Since its launch in 2022, nearly 250 people have gone through the Career Acceleration Program, Scott says. The program includes a summer internship program, and Beacon of Hope’s Office of College and Career Success encourages graduates who have paused their pursuit of further education or a career to restart. Thus far, Beacon of Hope has placed 175 students in its summer internship program and re-engaged approximately 27 graduates.
Job Seekers Love the Quality of Life in Lynchburg, VA
While finding a job is key, finding a job in a city you love is also important to consider. Thankfully, Lynchburg has both – great job opportunities and a fantastic quality of life.
One of its many positive attributes is its cost of living, which is 12.8% lower than the national average. This means people can spend more of their money on things they love. The area also offers affordable housing for multiple tastes and needs. For example, residents can find historic homes in Rivermont, a variety of apartments downtown, and single-family homes, condominiums and apartments in Wyndhurst and Cornerstone. Gobankingrates.com even named Lynchburg No. 1 on its list of amazing East Coast cities with affordable housing.
In addition to affordability, people love Lynchburg for its lively personality, amazing food scene, community events, like the year-round Lynchburg Community Market and Lynchburg Hillcats minor league baseball games, and outdoor activities, like hiking the nearby Appalachian Trail or skiing at Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre.
“Lynchburg is one of those rare places where you can grow a thriving career, earn a good living and still have a great quality of life outside of work, as well,” Meador says.
This article is sponsored by the City of Lynchburg offices of Economic Development & Tourism and Communications & Public Engagement.