Press Releases

RALEIGH — The state's seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 5.7 percent, remaining unchanged from October's revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 5.0 percent. North Carolina's November 2015 unemployment rate was 0.2 of a percentage point higher than a year ago. The number of people employed increased 15,466 over the month to 4,503,977 and increased 133,817 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 2,015 over the month to 270,977, and increased 15,615 over the year.

BSH Home Appliance Corp.Will Invest Nearly $80.7 Million in Expansion

Governor Pat McCrory, Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, and Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development Dr. Patricia Mitchell announced today that the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 15 grant requests totaling $3,039,244. The requests include commitments to create a total of 219 new jobs.

  Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) announced today that Red Ventures will expand its Mecklenburg County operations by adding 500 jobs over the next five years. The technology and marketing company plans to invest $5 million at its facility in Charlotte over the same period.

  Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) announced today that Corning Optical Communications, LLC will create 150 new jobs in Mecklenburg County as part of a new corporate headquarters. Optical Communications, a world-leading provider of fiber optic solutions, plans to invest $38.7 million by the end of 2018.

Eight Counties Will Change Tiers Next Year

—Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 83 of North Carolina's counties in October, decreased in six, and remained unchanged in 11. Scotland and Graham Counties had the highest unemployment rates, each at 10.3 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 4.1 percent. Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases and one experienced a decrease. Among the Metro areas, Rocky Mount at 7.7 percent experienced the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 4.4 percent. The October not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 5.5 percent.

Company Will Hire 100 Workers

Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) announced today that Premier Research will bring 260 new jobs to Durham under a five-year expansion plan. The contract research organization plans to invest over $4.1 million at its Durham County location through 2020.

Raleigh, N.C. -- Governor Pat McCrory and Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, announced today that Dale Folwell, assistant secretary at Commerce’s Division of Employment Security (DES), would be stepping down from his position effective December 1st.