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About a quarter of North Carolina's workforce is in occupations highly exposed to AI, and most of these jobs are outside computer and math fields. Our recent analysis shows which occupations are most exposed and where in the state they are concentrated.
North Carolina employed 461,467 manufacturing workers in 2025, the most of any state in the Southeast and eighth in the nation. Those jobs paid more than the statewide average. They also produced $111.5 billion in output and nearly all of the state's exports. For economic developers and job seekers, manufacturing remains one of North Carolina's largest sources of above average wages. And in 2025, manufacturing was the top industry producer for announced new jobs for the state - accounting for 75% of the state's announced new jobs for new and expanded projects.
In recognition of Manufacturing Month, this article uses data from the Common Follow-up System (CFS) to examine two decades of trends in employment in the Manufacturing sector among bachelor’s degree graduates from UNC System institutions. The analysis follows three graduating cohorts (2003, 2013, 2023) to identify the bachelor’s degree programs with the highest share of graduates working in the Manufacturing sector two years after graduation. While the overall share of UNC System bachelor’s degree graduates employed in Manufacturing remained stable, the programs most connected to
In recognition of Manufacturing Month, this article uses data from the Common Follow-up System (CFS) to examine which North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) programs are most closely associated with employment in the Manufacturing sector. The analysis follows three cohorts of NCCCS graduates (2003, 2013, and 2023) to identify the certificate and associate degree programs with the highest shares of graduates working in the Manufacturing sector.
Over 460,000 North Carolinians work in the Manufacturing sector, and advanced manufacturing was identified as a key workforce sector in the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships’ Strategies to Advance North Carolina’s Workforce Development Progress. In recognition of Manufacturing Month, this article uses data from the Common Follow-up System (CFS) to examine the educational and employment outcomes of graduating Manufacturing Career and Technical Education (CTE) Concentrators from North Carolina’s public high schools.
The Census Bureau’s Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS) AI Supplement provides insight into how North Carolina businesses are using AI, the reported impact on employment, and why many have yet to adopt the technology.
As the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, concerns are growing over its potential impact on the global economy. To better understand what these disruptions could mean for North Carolina, this article examines the state’s trade relationships with several countries in the region and the key commodities involved.
Whether you're considering a career change, starting a new business, or simply curious about North Carolina's regulatory landscape, understanding the state's licensing requirements is essential.
Our previous LEAD Feed analysis raised a puzzling question: why has North Carolina's manufacturing output stagnated while the nation's has grown by roughly 30% since 2004? We showed that NC's Nondurable Goods Manufacturing declined 17% over this period even as the national Nondurable Goods output rose 10%. Durable Goods Manufacturing told a similar story: NC's early gains have eroded, and the state is no longer outpacing national growth.
As the 15th largest export state in the U.S., North Carolina plays a significant role in international trade. From 2019 to 2024, the state’s trade activity gradually recovered from pandemic disruptions and experienced solid overall growth. Unsurprisingly, exports declined sharply in 2020, falling 14%. However, levels steadily rebounded, with exports exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 7% by 2024.