The Harrisonburg metropolitan area is being recognized as having the fastest job growth in the state.
That means salaries in this area are also rising faster than in other part of Virginia.
Income isn't going up for everyone in the area, but the overall number is looking good, thanks to specialized, high skill companies hiring more.
Robin Sullenberger, the CEO of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, says, "I think I would have to attribute that to the fact that the quality of our companies and the quality of our jobs is increasing in this region, and there are a multitude of reasons for that."
However, he says it's not every job seeing this increase.
"But where you would very likely be seeing the increase would be at higher level and higher education attainment jobs like with SRI, for instance, so these are advanced degree researchers who are being hired presently," says Sullenberger.
Dr. Krishna Kodukula, who works for SRI International, says the area is attractive for these types of businesses.
"I think the quality of life is great, the proximity to major metropolitan regions is nearby, and of course good education institutions so that is a good source for talent," says Kodukula.
He says high tech jobs are high wage jobs anywhere because of the specialized skills and education needed.
"So I think that calls for a right wage for the skill that they bring to the table, and I think that is what is contributing overall into bringing high wage technology jobs to the area," says Kodukula.
Sullenberger says he hopes this keeps the best and brightest in the Valley.
"Either coming out of our local colleges and staying here, or the folks who are growing up here get an opportunity for those kind of jobs too," says Sullenberger.
He says there are many companies in the area that fit this category, that have been expanding and hiring.
Some of these include Rosetta Stone, the Harris Corporation and Dynamic Aviation.
© Copyright 2012 WHSV / Gray Television Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
