The Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) member companies represent a vibrant and growing tech ecosystem as we highlighted in two previous blog posts. To better understand the talent landscape within these companies, we recently used the Resume Forensics tool in JobsEQ to analyze LinkedIn profiles of nearly 1,000 workers associated with our RBTC Tech Member Industry Index. The insights gained offer a snapshot of the region’s existing talent.
What We Learned
1. Strong LinkedIn Presence, Less Job Posting Activity: More RBTC Tech Member Industry Index companies maintain active LinkedIn profiles than post jobs on online platforms. This raises questions: Are these companies simply not hiring, or are they recruiting through other channels? Understanding these dynamics could unlock untapped hiring potential.
2. Talent Stays Local: Of the 960 LinkedIn profiles analyzed, 92% of workers live in the region. This localized workforce is notable, especially in a digital age where remote work is prevalent. It highlights the region’s appeal to tech talent and suggests strong roots in the local community.

3. Significant Industry Representation: While the analysis covered 960 profiles, Jobs EQ data indicates there are approximately 4,400 workers in this sector across the region. Capturing insights on nearly a quarter of this talent pool through LinkedIn is a robust starting point for deeper analysis.
4. Few Certifications Listed: A surprising insight: certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, and others are either underrepresented or not listed on LinkedIn profiles. This could indicate either a gap in credentialing or simply an omission by users on their profiles.

5. Actionable Opportunities: The Resume Forensics tool offers actionable insights by linking specific skills and certifications to individual profiles. For example, we identified 17 professionals with a PMP designation. This data could be used to form user groups or mentoring programs to foster certifications and skill-building within the community.
Next Steps: Understanding Demand
While Resume Forensics highlights what we have in terms of talent, the next step is to analyze job postings through the RTI tool to understand what companies want and need. Comparing supply and demand data will reveal alignment (or misalignment) in skills, degrees, and certifications, paving the way for targeted workforce development strategies.
Leveraging Insights for Growth
These findings not only inform RBTC’s talent strategies but also emphasize the potential to build stronger professional networks. For instance, creating support groups around key certifications like PMP could enhance the depth and competitiveness of the local tech workforce.
This data-driven approach is about more than numbers; it’s about equipping our region to thrive in a fast-changing tech landscape. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into the need analysis and continue connecting the dots between talent and opportunity.
Attend RBTC’s webinar series to learn more about the future of innovation investment and Roanoke-Blacksburg’s growing tech-based economy.
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Throughout his career, Stuart Mease has focused on connecting people to create mutually beneficial relationships. He has served within the private, governmental, and higher education sectors and currently serves as the Director of North Carolina Operations for ROCS Grad Staffing. Prior positions include Executive Director of Employer Relations at Wake Forest University and leadership at Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business where he oversaw admission and diversity recruiting, mentoring, career services, and outreach.