A recent meeting of the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable highlighted significant concerns regarding the region's talent migration, revealing that Hampton Roads is losing skilled workers to other areas across the country. The roundtable, which combines efforts from the Reinvent Hampton Roads initiative and the Hampton Roads Roundtable, serves as a key stakeholder group aimed at enhancing the economic trajectory of the region.

During the meeting, leaders presented data indicating that Hampton Roads is lagging behind peer metropolitan areas in terms of talent retention. A commissioned study by the workforce council identified the reasons behind this outflow, emphasizing the urgent need for strategic interventions to address the issue. Notably, cities like Virginia Beach and Norfolk are experiencing substantial talent losses, while some growth is observed in areas such as Suffolk.

The roundtable's findings underscore a critical challenge for the region's economic development, as retaining and attracting talent is essential for fostering growth and competitiveness. The group aims to convene stakeholders to devise actionable strategies to reverse this trend and bolster the local workforce.