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Topics Related to Labor Market
Previous LEAD research has shown that registered apprenticeships have a positive, causal impact on laid-off workers, leading to higher rates of employment and higher earnings for nearly a decade after job loss. But do registered apprenticeships produce similar benefits for other populations? In this article, we examine the impact of registered apprenticeships on recent high school graduates, tracking how participation affects employment and earnings over a ten-year period.
This blog concludes our three-part series on North Carolina's employment outlook. In Part 1, we explored statewide job trends, while Part 2 concentrated on industry outlooks across substate regions. This final article examines how occupational trends play out across regions, where growth is concentrated, and how job opportunities differ across the state.
This blog is part of a three-part series on North Carolina’s employment outlook. In Part 1, we explored statewide job trends. This second installment looks at how industry growth differs across North Carolina — and where economic activity is expected to expand over the next decade. The next and final part will examine how job opportunities vary across regions.
The Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) has recently released North Carolina's long-term employment projections through 2034. This blog is the first in a three-part series highlighting key statewide trends and findings.
In this edition of NC Economy Watch, we examine the employment data revisions just released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Like last year, this year’s revisions point to a widespread labor market slowdown, with most of North Carolina’s industry sectors and metro areas seeing downward revisions. In addition, these revisions show the Asheville area experiencing a persistent shortfall in employment following the impact of Hurricane Helene, demonstrating the challenges faced by Western North Carolina in achieving a complete economic recovery.
This article uses data from the Common Follow-up System (CFS) to explore trends in health-related degree completion across North Carolina’s public higher education systems. Specifically, it focuses on bachelor’s degree graduates in Health Professions and Related Programs and Registered Nursing majors at UNC System institutions and associate’s degree in Health Sciences and Nursing majors at North Carolina community colleges.
Last month, LEAD introduced the County Economic Vitality Index — a composite measure of the economy for all 100 North Carolina counties. Scores are benchmarked annually against the U.S. average across unemployment, wages, median household income, and educational attainment. We also shared 10 key findings from the data revealing patterns in NC's economic geography.
Today, we're making it easier to explore those patterns yourself through the County EVI interactive dashboard.
Today, we're making it easier to explore those patterns yourself through the County EVI interactive dashboard.
In 2023 and 2024, an increase in immigration contributed to population, labor force, and employment growth nationwide and in North Carolina, but new data show that immigration slowed in 2025. This article examines how these changes have shaped the state’s labor market in recent years and what they may mean for North Carolina in the years ahead.
To better understand the local economic performance in North Carolina, and how that performance has changed over time, LEAD developed an index to measure the economic outcomes across the 100 counties.
How is my county doing economically? And are we getting better? These are two common questions we receive about North Carolina’s economy. The answers are harder to nail down than they should be. Single indicators like unemployment or income tell only part of the story. National datasets often lack county-level detail. Without consistent benchmarks, it's difficult to know whether local conditions reflect broader trends or something unique to the community.