Workforce A region that has a strong economy, outstanding educational systems, and an exceptional quality of life inevitably possesses a dynamic population. Local employers have access to a workforce of more than 134,000 well-educated, technologically sophisticated, and extremely capable people who can meet a diverse range of recruitment needs. • The region has experienced significant population growth in recent years, growing by almost 21 percent in the 1990s and by more than five percent since the start of the new millennium. • A large and diverse pool of highly qualified graduates from the University of Virginia, one of the nation's leading public educational institutions, enters the work force each year. • A significant percentage of technologically sophisticated workers, with computer literacy well above the national average, is able to adapt to employers' rapidly evolving needs. • Many workers live in and around Charlottesville and Albemarle County, while others work in surrounding counties or commute to employment centers in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Richmond, or Northern Virginia. Although the regional unemployment rate usually remains at or below three percent, many people regularly commute long distances to fill quality jobs. These workers are readily attracted to job opportunities closer to home. • The region is characterized by a high level of underemployment. The underemployment rate in the Charlottesville area is calculated to be approximately 10 percent.