Press Releases

Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc., a comprehensive housing and wood products company will create 129 jobs in Randolph County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company, through a new wholly owned subsidiary, will establish a manufacturing facility and invest $19.5 million in Archdale.

Woodgrain, Inc., a building products company, will create 42 new jobs in Nash County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $7.5 million to expand its door-hanging operation in Rocky Mount. “It’s great that Rocky Mount is Woodgrain’s top choice for its expansion,” said Governor Cooper. “This decision is indicative of the company’s positive experience with our strong communities, manufacturing economy and our world class workforce.”

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 99 of North Carolina’s counties in October and decreased in one. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.5 percent while Orange County had the lowest at 3.1 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 6.2 percent while Asheville, Durham-Chapel Hill, and Raleigh each had the lowest at 3.3 percent. The October not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.9 percent.

The state’s seasonally adjusted October 2022 unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, increasing 0.2 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.7 percent. North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 0.6 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 10,310 over the month to 4,933,609 and increased 154,352 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 9,944 over the month to 194,125 and decreased 23,846 over the year.

Ziehl-Abegg, Inc., a manufacturer of commercial ventilation systems, will create 189 new jobs in Forsyth County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company says it will invest more than $100 million to expand its operations and relocate its North American headquarters to Winston-Salem. “I am delighted to congratulate Ziehl-Abegg on this expansion in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County,” said Governor Cooper. “The company’s increased investment is a great vote of confidence in our thriving economy, central East Coast location, and skilled manufacturing workforce.”

The North Carolina Taskforce for Offshore Wind Economic Resource Strategies (

North Carolina will celebrate “Employ A Veteran Week,” November 7-11, with a variety of events that help connect veterans to jobs and other services, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 99 of North Carolina’s counties in September and increased in one. Warren County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.6 percent while Orange and Buncombe Counties each had the lowest at 2.6 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.5 percent while Asheville and Durham-Chapel Hill each had the lowest at 2.7 percent. The September not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.3 percent.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has awarded 20 special grants to 11 local workforce development boards, totaling $8.45 million, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. Boards will use the grants to help jobseekers and small businesses with training and other services in response to a tight labor market. These include programs for individuals who are in the reentry process and individuals with or at risk of substance abuse. Federal American Rescue Plan Act funds are supporting this initiative.

Applications are now being accepted for a new round of grantmaking from the One North Carolina Small Business Program, a key source of capital for North Carolina’s emerging technology companies. “The One North Carolina Small Business Program provides critical support to some of our state’s most promising new companies,” said North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Machelle Baker Sanders. “Recent enhancements to the program open the door for even more tech entrepreneurs to grow their companies in North Carolina.”