State
Businesses in Virginia by trade
210,842 employer establishments in 2023, employing 3,581,650 people (+4.4% establishments since 2017).
VIRGINIA · ALL INDUSTRIES
210,842
establishments with paid employees
- Employees
- 3,581,650
- Average per site
- 17.0
- Change since 2017
- +4.4%
- Annual payroll
- $251.0 billion
The 12 trades in Virginia
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 | State rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 7,154 | 142,779 | +3.6% | 12 |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 1,516 | 19,952 | +19.3% | 17 |
| Beauty salons | 2,602 | 12,211 | +5.7% | 9 |
| Barber shops | 260 | 973 | +54.8% | 8 |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 2,765 | 34,582 | +4.1% | 12 |
| Roofing contractors | 556 | 4,369 | +17.5% | 13 |
| Landscaping services | 3,096 | 25,931 | +11.0% | 14 |
| Janitorial services | 2,136 | 38,660 | −4.6% | 9 |
| Child day care | 1,977 | 27,909 | +0.8% | 14 |
| General auto repair | 2,297 | 12,273 | −3.6% | 11 |
| Fitness centers | 1,220 | 21,975 | +13.1% | 11 |
| Pet care services | 764 | 5,595 | +36.7% | 9 |
Largest industry groups in Virginia
The twelve three-digit NAICS groups with the most employer establishments.
| Industry group | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 32,231 | 536,441 | +2.5% |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | 17,551 | 325,370 | +7.1% |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | 17,305 | 218,788 | +16.7% |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 13,057 | 133,313 | +6.4% |
| Administrative and Support Services | 10,896 | 260,522 | +3.4% |
| Real Estate | 10,362 | 49,110 | +20.7% |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 9,765 | 90,820 | +0.2% |
| Personal and Laundry Services | 7,933 | 45,051 | +16.0% |
| Construction of Buildings | 6,882 | 44,549 | +9.2% |
| Repair and Maintenance | 5,929 | 37,882 | +2.0% |
| Social Assistance | 4,487 | 70,673 | +11.6% |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | 4,398 | 95,802 | −16.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.