Topics Related to Labor Market

The Census’ latest release of the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year data and 2022 Longitudinal Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) allows us to revisit levels of working from home and commuting patterns in North Carolina.

An aging population is transforming North Carolina’s healthcare and workforce needs. In this first blog of a new series on the healthcare workforce, we examine this demographic shift and its impact on the state’s healthcare sector.

In this edition of NC Economy Watch, we highlight three of the big questions we’ll be asking as 2025 gets underway: will Asheville’s labor market recover from Hurricane Helene? Will labor market conditions improve for jobseekers across the state? And will we see any more relief on interest rates?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics just released county-level unemployment rate estimates for October 2024. These preliminary data offer a first look at the impact of Hurricane Helene on local labor markets in North Carolina. Buncombe County was the hardest hit by far, with an unemployment rate of 8.8%, while most other counties affected by the storm saw a much smaller labor market impact, or no impact at all.

This morning, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its first batch of official statistics covering the impact of Hurricane Helene on North Carolina’s economy. This article describes what we know so far about the employment impact of Helene—or, at least, what we think we know, given the preliminary nature of these statistics. We also summarize what we don’t yet know about the impact of Helene and leave readers with some things to keep in mind as we continue to sort through this emerging evidence.

Industry 4.0 is reshaping North Carolina's manufacturing landscape, and with it, the role of economic developers across the state. As highlighted in the recent "Best Practices for Growing Manufacturing in North Carolina" report, our approach to fostering industrial growth and competitiveness must continue to evolve to maintain our position as a global manufacturing leader.

In this edition of NC Economy Watch, we take stock of how labor market conditions in North Carolina and nationwide have changed since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past two years, hiring new employees has gotten easier while finding a new job has become more difficult. Although the future is uncertain, it’s clear that the COVID-era labor market is now a thing of the past.

North Carolina is gearing up for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which will integrate advanced technologies like robotics, the internet of things, and data analytics into manufacturing operations. This seismic shift, as outlined in "Best Practices for Growing Manufacturing in North Carolina," will profoundly impact workforce development professionals across the state.

North Carolina is preparing for the next industrial revolution driven by advanced "Industry 4.0" technologies like robotics, automation, and data analytics. A new report from the NC Department of Commerce and NC State’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership, "Best Practices for Growing Manufacturing in North Carolina," outlines some major implications this shift will have for the state's manufacturing workforce.

As we conclude our three-part series on North Carolina’s 2032 employment projections, we shift our focus to the future of talent demands. After examining overall employment trends and industry outlooks in the previous articles, we now dive into to occupational projections, providing valuable insights into job prospects and educational requirements.