Annandale's economy is distinctively decentralized, powered by education, local retail, and small enterprises rather than massive corporate campuses.
* **Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)**: The Annandale Campus is one of the largest employers in the area and a major driver of local economic activity. * **Small & Medium Enterprises**: The lifeblood of the Annandale economy is its hundreds of independent, family-owned businesses, particularly within the Korean-American and Hispanic commercial corridors. * _Note: Major Fortune 500 defense and tech headquarters are located in nearby neighboring hubs like Tysons, Reston, and Falls Church._