Press Releases

Advance Auto Parts, Inc., (NYSE: AAP) will designate Raleigh as its corporate headquarters and expand operations in Wake County by adding up to 435 new jobs over five years, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. These roles will enable the company to add value for customers and shareholders and enhance its omnichannel business. Advance’s long-term integration plans and continued development of technology, eCommerce and digital platforms will be led in large part by teams based in Raleigh.

Cascades Holdings U.S., Inc. (Cascades) has selected Scotland County for a significant expansion of its operations. The company will invest $58 million and create 66 new jobs over two years, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

Era Polymers Corporation, an Australian manufacturer specializing in polyurethane chemistry, will open its first industrial facility in the United States, creating 20 new jobs in Gaston County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company plans to invest $9.2 million in Stanley.

The state’s seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. North Carolina’s October 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.9 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 5,244 over the month to 4,810,957 and increased 63,798 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 5,911 over the month to 181,435 and decreased 39,887 over the year.

Sanritsu Logistics will open a new warehouse and manufacturing plant in Rockingham County, creating 24 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The international and domestic logistics services company plans to invest $9 million in Reidsville and will service clients throughout the southeastern United States.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in September. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.2 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.4 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 4.6 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 2.5 percent. The September not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.1 percent.

North Carolina veterans now have new tools available to help them find jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today just ahead of Veterans Day and Employ a Veteran Week. The North Carolina Department of Commerce has developed the NCWorks Veterans Portal – located at veterans.ncworks.gov – to help both job seekers and employers.

A manufacturer, a technology training partnership and four individual North Carolinians have won the Governor’s NCWorks Awards of Distinction for outstanding accomplishments and contributions related to workforce development, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony Copeland announced today. The recipients received awards earlier this month during a ceremony held in Greensboro as part of the annual NCWorks Partnership Conference.

The state’s seasonally adjusted September unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from August’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.7 percent. North Carolina’s September 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.6 of a percentage point from a year ago.  The number of people employed decreased 418 over the month to 4,805,218 and increased 60,636 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 9,530 over the month to 187,386 and decreased 32,493 over the year. 

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 21 grant requests totaling $6,935,250, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 616 jobs, 304 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $594 million in private investment.