Press Releases

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 97 of North Carolina’s counties in June and decreased in three.  Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.0 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.2 percent.  All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases.  Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 6.3 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.4 percent.  The June not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.2 percent.

Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL), a globally diversified financial services group providing insurance, reinsurance and mortgage insurance, will open an operational hub in Raleigh and create 365 new jobs over four years, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $12.9 million in North Carolina by the end of 2019.

Half of North Carolina employers are having difficulty filling open positions, according to the results of a new survey of business hiring needs from late 2016 to early 2018. The 2018 Employer Needs Survey is published by the NCWorks Commission and conducted on its behalf by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Labor & Economic Analysis Division (LEAD). 

North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper commended North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS) employees today for leading a statewide drive to benefit young people in North Carolina’s out-of-home care system. Raleigh-based DWS staff launched the Luggage of Hope service project to provide luggage and toiletries to ease transitions for children in foster care.

Sensus USA, Inc., a provider of advanced metering technologies to utilities and municipalities, will expand its current operations in Durham County, creating 301 new jobs over five years, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $4 million in North Carolina by the end of 2019.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 60 of North Carolina’s counties in May, increased in eight, and remained unchanged in 32.  Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.5 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.8 percent.  Seven of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases, one increased, and seven remained unchanged.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce approved 10 grant requests totaling more than $14 million through the Rural ReadySites program, Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. 

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 23 grant requests totaling $17,021,540, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 425 jobs, 186 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract $117.6 million in private investment. 

The state’s seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from April’s revised rate.  The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.8 percent. North Carolina’s May 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago.  The number of people employed increased 12,280 over the month to 4,774,254 and increased 64,944 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 5,969 over the month to 213,611 and decreased 6,727 over the year..   

The Government Performance Lab (GPL) at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University announced today that North Carolina will benefit from the assistance of a government performance expert, at no cost to taxpayers. This new collaboration between the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Harvard Kennedy School marks the first time that the state has been awarded technical assistance by the GPL.  North Carolina was one of six jurisdictions selected to receive pro bono technical assistance.