Press Releases

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in September. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.8 percent while Orange County had the lowest at 2.8 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.7 percent while Durham-Chapel Hill and Raleigh each had the lowest at 3.1 percent. The September not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.8 percent.

North Carolina will celebrate “Employ A Veteran Week,” Nov. 8-12, with a variety of events to help connect veterans to jobs and other services, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. “In North Carolina, we appreciate our military, our veterans, and their families, who have all served and sacrificed for our country,” Governor Cooper said. “One great way that our employers can honor veterans is by hiring them, and as an added benefit they will also be getting some of the best employees they have ever had.”

Jaguar Gene Therapy, LLC, an Illinois-based gene therapy company, will create 200 new jobs and invest more than $125 million to locate a GMP facility in Durham County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. “North Carolina’s diverse life sciences presence continues to attract innovative biopharmaceutical companies," said Governor Cooper. “Jaguar’s expansion into biomanufacturing in Research Triangle Park, together with its process sciences laboratory in Cary, reinforces North Carolina’s reputation as a premier location for these companies."

The state’s seasonally adjusted September unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from August’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.4 of a percentage point to 4.8 percent. North Carolina’s September 2021 unemployment rate decreased 3.1 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 15,497 over the month to 4,810,394 and increased 167,700 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 5,074 over the month to 211,500 and decreased 152,782 over the year.

WestRock Company [NYSE:WRK], a global manufacturer of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, will create 50 new jobs in Catawba County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $47 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Claremont.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 22 grant requests to local governments totaling $4,742,465, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 663 jobs, 246 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $230.9 million in private investment.   

Custom Alloy Corporation (CAC), a heavy manufacturer of pipe fittings and forgings has selected Stanly County for a new industrial operation, creating 40 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $8.1 million in a facility located in Badin that will produce products for the U.S. Navy.

Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced that an innovative manufacturer, a virtual internship initiative, and four individual North Carolinians have won NCWorks Awards of Distinction for outstanding accomplishments and contributions related to workforce development. The recipients were recognized during the 34th annual NCWorks Partnership Conference, organized by the N.C. Department of Commerce and held this year in a virtual format.

Hubbell Power Systems, Inc. a global manufacturer of electrical power products for utilities will expand operations in North Carolina with an $8.9 million investment in the City of Rocky Mount, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will add 73 new jobs with today’s decision.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce invites employers across the state to participate in an innovative new survey to measure current business conditions in North Carolina.  The new ‘Business Pulse Survey,’ conducted by the Commerce Department in partnership with the NCWorks Commission and myFutureNC, will offer timely insights into the state of the economy and will be the first survey of its kind undertaken by the state. The initiative comes in the wake of a period of rapid change during the COVID-19 pandemic.