Press Releases

The state’s seasonally adjusted February 2024 unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, unchanged from January’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.9 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 3,135 over the month to 5,071,461 and increased 50,979 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 1,265 over the month to 184,472 and increased 6,541 over the year.

SCHOTT Pharma USA, Inc., a global leader in manufacturing drug containment solutions and delivery systems for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, will establish a new production facility in Wilson County, creating 401 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $371 million in the City of Wilson.

Forty Main Street Champions will be honored for their contributions to downtown revitalization and community building in 2023 during a recognition ceremony today in Goldsboro. With the addition of this year’s honorees, 415 Main Street Champions have now been recognized by the N.C. Department of Commerce since 2000.

Coinciding with Governor Roy Cooper’s “Equal Pay Day” proclamation and the National Women’s History Alliance 2024 theme of celebrating “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders is urging greater gender diversity on corporate boards to better represent North Carolina’s demographics. Companies with diverse boards not only are more reflective of the population but perform better and drive greater profitability for their shareholders.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in January 2024. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.8 percent while Greene County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.0 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 2.9 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.6 percent.

Twelve communities will receive awards for excellence in downtown revitalization during the annual North Carolina Main Street Awards Ceremony held in Goldsboro this evening. N.C. Department of Commerce Chief Deputy Secretary Jordan Whichard, Assistant Secretary of Rural Development Kenny Flowers, and Director of the North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center Liz Parham will present awards in design, organization, promotion, and economic vitality.

Applications are again being accepted by the Department of Commerce for its professional development and education program for rural leaders in North Carolina.  New participants in the Rural Community Capacity (RC2) program will be able to select an eastern location for the campus-based educational program as East Carolina University joins Appalachian State University in the RC2 program, an initiative of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division.

The state’s seasonally adjusted January 2024 unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from December’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 6,721 over the month to 5,068,208 and increased 64,125 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 1,640 over the month to 185,760 and increased 2,495 over the year.

Steel Warehouse Company, a leading steel service center, will create 58 new jobs in Catawba County, Governor Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $30.5 million to locate a state-of-the-art facility in the City of Hickory.“North Carolina’s reputation as the best state for business continues to attract industry leaders to operate in our state,” said Governor Cooper. “Our central East Coast location, affordability, and world-class workforce will greatly benefit Steel Warehouse in this next phase of growth in Hickory.”

Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced that Toyota will serve as the title sponsor for the upcoming Southeast U.S./Japan Annual Joint Meeting (“SEUS/Japan”), an important economic development conference aimed at increasing Japanese investment in North Carolina and the Southeastern United States.  The conference will convene in Charlotte, October 27-29, 2024.