How Martinsville’s Workforce Is Quietly Leading a Regional Comeback

06/28/2025 

By: Peyton Nibblett, Assistant to City Manager and Deputy City Clerk

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Martinsville, Virginia is perhaps one of Virginia’s best kept secrets. Nestled away in the beautiful, tree-covered rolling hills of Southwest Virginia, Martinsville is a sleeping giant that was once a glorious titan of the Furniture and Textiles Industry. Once a national leader in furniture and textiles, the city weathered the devastating gut-punch of offshoring in the late 20th century. Factories shuttered. Generations of workers were left scrambling. But instead of folding, the city invested—in infrastructure, in education, and in people. The result is a workforce with resilience in its DNA. The talent here isn’t loud or flashy but it has something the modern economy desperately needs: adaptability, loyalty, and the hunger to prove themselves again. 

At a time when big cities are pricing out the very people they rely on, Martinsville is making a compelling offer: Come here, grow here, hire here.

Our Numbers Speak for Themselves 

Over 22% of the local workforce is employed in manufacturing, with approximately 6,000 people already skilled in production trades.  Martinsville sits at the center of a combined labor force of over 27,000 when including Henry County, giving businesses a solid foundation for hiring. Unemployment remains low—around 3.7% as of late 2024—and commute times are short, averaging just 20 minutes.

Reskilling for the Future

Workforce transformation is already underway. Martinsville is investing in the skills the future demands: robotics, automation, cybersecurity, and more. Martinsville is investing deeply in workforce reskilling through institutions like Patrick & Henry Community College (PHCC), PHCC Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology (MET) Center, and the New College Institute (NCI).

• PHCC's MET Center offers hands-on training in high-demand fields like mechatronics, precision machining, industrial automation, and robotics, all aligned with the needs of modern manufacturing and aerospace suppliers.
• NCI provides pathways in engineering, cybersecurity, data analytics, and additive manufacturing, giving students access to bachelor's and industry-specific credentials that directly support high-tech and aerospace careers.
  
  

This growing technical education infrastructure is built to meet the needs of advanced industries—including those tied to JetZero’s groundbreaking aerospace development just 45 miles south in Greensboro and the recent 300 acre land purchase of famous tech giant, Google, for the purpose of a possible Data Center stationed in nearby Botetourt County. 

A Regionally Connected Workforce

Martinsville’s impact extends well beyond city limits. With a combined population of over 62,000 when including Henry County, our labor pool rivals that of many small metros. And our role as a commuter hub is growing.

According to recent data:

• ~7,000 people commute into Martinsville for work daily, bringing energy into our businesses and factories.
  
  
• ~4,000 Martinsville residents commute out, often to nearby regional hubs like Greensboro and Danville. That’s a key opportunity—if we can keep more of that talent and spending local, we boost our economy from within.
  
  
• Only ~1,000 live and work in Martinsville—a number the city is working to grow by expanding job opportunities and housing.

That’s 12,000 people crossing city lines every day. The opportunity? Convert commuters into residents—and dollars spent locally.

In Conclusion

The world is rediscovering Martinsville—not as a footnote in manufacturing history, but as a launching pad for what’s next. For employers looking to build, grow, and innovate with a loyal and skilled workforce, Martinsville is ready.