What is it that state employees do that make their work so valuable, and, for the most part, done out of the public eye?

That was the question put to 10 state employees in a range of professions.

Some work quietly in the background taking care of the sick and infirmed or answering tax questions or overseeing a string of state parks.

Each in his or her own words talks about how his or her work benefits the Commonwealth. Their comments also reflect an abiding desire to be of service to others, whether it is protecting miners or protecting communities.

Some are new to the Commonwealth's workforce; others are long-term employees eyeing retirement.

The Department of Human Resource Management is assisting agencies and employees to prepare for the future. Agencies are developing strategies to identify and recruit for critical skills. Employees can chart their own career paths through DHRM's career center http://jobs.state.va.us/cc-os.htm or using career guides for specific skill areas http://jobs.state.va.us/cc_planningctr.htm .

In addition to retaining the best employees, the Commonwealth must also recruit qualified, skilled workers to replace the impending wave of retirements of current workers. The best recruiters are state employees themselves.

Over 7 percent of the state's classified workforce is eligible to retire right now with full benefits, with thousands more eligible for retirement in the next few years. Those pending retirements make recruitment a critical issue facing the Commonwealth.

Over 110,000 people work for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Here are the stories of 10 of those employees.