Research

A tightening labor supply will give workers more choice in who they work for, while the persistence of remote work will continue to offer many workers significantly more freedom in where they choose to live. That shift is creating new opportunities for rural regions like Southwest Virginia. With its scenery, mild climate, distinctive culture, and location near the fast-growing triangle formed by Nashville, Raleigh, and Atlanta, the region is well placed to compete for new residents.

The Center for Survey Research (CSR) conducted a multi-phase, mixed-mode evaluation of the Virginia College Advising Corps (VCAC) to support the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) in planning and developing future directions for post-secondary advising in Virginia.

On May 16, 2025, the Center for Survey Research presented work at the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Annual Conference in St. Louis, MO, focusing on sampling hard-to-reach populations who are often underrepresented in surveys.

This blog post examines the demographics of Virginians aged 60 and older across eight regions in the Commonwealth, offering a regional perspective on the needs of this rapidly growing population.

On April 8, 2025, Cooper Center researchers presented slides to the Virginia House of Delegates Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions that defined the scope of the issue and offered reduction scenarios.

The Cooper Center's third policy briefing on changes to the federal workforce and its relationship to Virginia's economy.

Second policy brief on the impact of federal jobs on Virginia's economy.

Cooper Center analysis of the Cost of Community Services for land use categories in Albemarle County for FY 2022.

The first Weldon Cooper Center policy briefing on the importance of federal jobs for the Virginia economy.

A survey for the Reston Community Center (RCC) that assesses awareness and support for RCC, determines current and projected program use, explores barriers to RCC participation, and captures preferences to inform consideration of a future community facility.