Press Releases

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in October. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.5 percent while Watauga County had the lowest at 4.1 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Fayetteville had the highest rate at 8.3 percent while Raleigh and Durham-Chapel Hill each had the lowest at 5.3 percent. The October not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 6.1 percent.

Chick-fil-A®, one of the nation’s leading quick service restaurant companies, will locate a major distribution center in Alamance County, investing an estimated $52 million to build the new facility, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The project, part of Chick-fil-A Supply®, the company’s new distribution service focused on supplying food and products to its restaurants, will create 160 jobs at the North Carolina Industrial Center in Mebane. It is scheduled to open in early 2022.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce released the county tier designations for 2021 today.  The designations, which are mandated by state law, play a role in several programs that assist in economic development.

The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX), a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products, will create 158 new jobs in Durham County, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $7.5 million to relocate the headquarters for its Better Health Vitamins, Minerals and Supplement (VMS) business and expand its operations in Durham.

The state’s seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate was 6.3 percent, decreasing 0.9 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 1.0 percentage point to 6.9 percent. North Carolina’s October 2020 unemployment rate increased 2.6 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 79,754 over the month to 4,623,968 and decreased 294,266 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 41,542 over the month to 310,292 and increased 123,820 over the year.

Wolf and Flow X-Ray, a medical imaging manufacturer, will create 68 new jobs in Edgecombe County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $4.5 million to relocate their headquarters and manufacturing operations to Rocky Mount. “Manufacturers like Wolf and Flow X-Ray choose North Carolina to base their operations because they are confident in our workforce and our ability to manage the current crisis. We are well-positioned to recover economically, in part, because of companies choosing to expand in our state right now,” said Governor Cooper.

American Wood Fibers, Inc., a specialty forest products supplier, has selected Scotland County for a new manufacturing site and will create 51 jobs.  The company will invest $19.5 million to add new capabilities to a facility previous operated by Nature’s Earth Pellets in Laurinburg.

Nuvotronics, an advanced technology manufacturer of microelectronics components and subsystems, will create 150 jobs in Durham County, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $50 million over five years to increase their manufacturing footprint and production capabilities in Durham to support projected growth in the business.

Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CNR), a manufacturer of exterior building products, will create 38 new jobs in Nash County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest approximately $25 million over five years to establish a production facility in Rocky Mount.

The governors of Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia today announced a three-state collaboration to advance offshore wind projects in the region and promote the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic United States as a hub for offshore wind energy and industry.