Topics Related to Labor Market

In this edition of NC Economy Watch, we examine the challenges faced by recent college graduates in North Carolina. While college remains a worthwhile investment for most students, recent college graduates are confronting a more difficult labor market than in previous years as they navigate technological change and the ups-and-downs of the post-COVID economy.

The Labor & Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) recently released the 2032 Regional Long Term Industry Projections for North Carolina. As reported in the summary of the 2032 Statewide Long Term Employment Projections earlier this year, over 500,000 new jobs are expected to be added to the North Carolina economy between 2022 and 2032, representing a percentage change of 10% . However, these trends vary significantly by region and industry.

The Labor and Economic Analysis recently released the 2032 Regional Employment Projections for nearly 140 industries and 840 occupations. These projections estimate future workforce demand based on historical employment trends and a range of economic factors and offer valuable insights for shaping education and workforce planning in North Carolina.

Last year, we published two articles examining the employment outcomes of older jobseekers in North Carolina’s labor market. This year, in recognition of Reentry Month, we take a closer look at what happens to older individuals after they leave prison in North Carolina.

Employer demand for healthcare workers soared after the COVID-19 recession, with job openings peaking in 2022-2023 before moderating throughout 2024. Despite easing labor market conditions, healthcare employers still struggle with hiring challenges, ranging from having too few applicants to having candidates with insufficient work experience. In this second installment of a series on the healthcare workforce, we explore the healthcare labor market from the perspective of employers.

Toward the end of 2024, there were about 82,600 federal employees in North Carolina, accounting for 2% of the state’s total employment. Using the latest available data, we map out where federal employment is concentrated across the state.

In this edition of NC Economy Watch, we examine the employment data revisions just released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. These revised data show job growth slowing and job gains narrowing, with the Education & Health Services and Government sectors accounting for 97% of our state’s net job growth in 2024. Meanwhile, revised data also show that the Asheville metro area had more economic momentum going into Hurricane Helene than initially estimated, a hopeful sign for the region’s post-hurricane employment recovery.

Women in North Carolina are earning postsecondary degrees at higher rates than men, yet a significant earnings gap persists. This analysis explores how education, earnings, and field of study intersect to shape gender wage disparities in the state.

How and where Americans work continue to evolve following the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Census Bureau recently published data from the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS), showing North Carolina ranked 11th among the states and District of Columbia in remote work – down from 13th in 2022.

North Carolina's business landscape is undergoing a dramatic demographic shift, with the number of Black and Hispanic business owners surging in recent years according to new data from the US Census Bureau's Annual Business Survey.