Portsmouth boasts 90 miles of shoreline, and 360 degrees of opportunity. The City’s landscape is surrounded by water and has attracted the industrial maritime industry and related trades for three centuries. The U.S. Navy’s oldest and largest industrial facility – the Norfolk Naval Shipyard – has spurred many private-sector business opportunities in ship repair. The Port of Virginia operates two terminals in Portsmouth – Portsmouth Marine Terminals (PMT) and the Virginia International Gateway (VIG). Economic development tools like the state-designated Enterprise Zone program and locally-funded incentives attract new businesses to Portsmouth, as well as encourage the growth of existing industries.
| Economic Area | Population |
| Portsmouth | 96,194 |
| Virginia | 8,459,161 |
| United States | 323,772,974 |
Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI), 2016
| Age Range | Percent of Population |
| Under 18 | 23.2% |
| 18-34 | 24.8% |
| 35-54 | 24.5% |
| 55+ | 27.5% |
| Median Age | 36.5 |
| Gender | |
| Male | 48.1% |
| Female | 51.9% |
Esri Business Analyst Online 2016 Detailed Age Profile
| Year | Amount |
| 2016 | $ 45,086 |
| 2021 Forecast | $ 42,897 |
Esri Business Analyst Online, 2016 forecast
| Portsmouth | Percent |
| At Least a High School Diploma | 83.80% |
| At Least Some College | 55.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.90% |
| United States | |
| At Least a High School Diploma | 87.18% |
| At Least Some College | 59.60% |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.45% |
Esri Business Analyst Online 2016 Market Profile
| Amount | |
| Civilian Labor Force | 43,650 |
| Employed | 41,330 |
| Unemployed | 2,320 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2017
| Industry | Number of Employees | Percent of Workforce |
| Government | 18,402 | 42.83% |
| Health and Social Assistance | 7,056 | 16.42% |
| Retail Trade | 3,102 | 7.22% |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 2,222 | 5.17% |
| Construction | 2,178 | 5.07% |
| Administrative Support | 1,901 | 4.42% |
Virginia Employment Commission, Q3 2016
| Employer |
| Bon Secours Health Systems |
| Virginia International Gateway (VIG) |
| Ceres Marine Terminals |
| Pines Residential Treatment |
| Metro Machine Corp. |
| Mr. Robert D. Moore, Director |
| City of Portsmouth Department of Economic Development 801 Crawford St., 5th Floor Portsmouth, VA 23704 |
| (P) 757.393.8804 (F) 757-393-8293 |
| www.portsmouthva.gov/econdev robert.moore@portsmouthva.gov |
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