Press Releases

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 74 of North Carolina’s counties in February, increased in 10, and remained unchanged in 16.  Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 14.9 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.5 percent.  Eleven of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases while four remained unchanged.  Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 6.8 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.7 percent.  The February not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.6 percent.

Two projects have been awarded North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grants to support productions in Wilmington and the High Point area, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The awardees include the feature film "Words on Bathroom Walls," an adaptation of an acclaimed novel, and a set of five commercials for Home Depot.

Corvid Technologies LLC, which provides physics-based engineering solutions for the defense, automotive, aircraft, and biomedical industries, will locate its headquarters in Iredell County, creating 367 new jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $28.9 million in Mooresville.

New York Air Brake, LLC (NYAB), a global manufacturer of innovative train control systems for the railroad industry, will increase its presence in North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. To further boost its operations on the East Coast as well as its manufacturing operations in Rowan County, the company expects to create up to 100 jobs and invest nearly $9 million in its operations facilities in Salisbury to address growing customer demand.  

The state’s seasonally adjusted February unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, remaining unchanged from January’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent. North Carolina’s February 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.3 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 4,236 over the month to 4,751,873 and increased 78,050 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 289 over the month to 222,545 and decreased 14,055 over the year.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 93 of North Carolina’s counties in January, decreased in one, and remained unchanged in six.  Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 14.6 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.6 percent.  Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases while one remained unchanged.  Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 6.9 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.7 percent.  The January not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.7 percent.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 93 of North Carolina’s counties in January, decreased in one, and remained unchanged in six.  Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 14.6 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.6 percent.  Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases while one remained unchanged.  Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 6.9 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.7 percent.  The January not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.7 percent.

North Carolina Main Street Champions will be recognized for their commitment to downtown improvements and strong communities during an awards breakfast in Clayton March 15 at 9 a.m. Thirty-nine individuals will receive honors for their contributions to Main Street programs and downtown districts in 2017. This year’s group of Main Street Champions brings the total number to 678 individuals recognized by the N.C. Department of Commerce over the past 18 years.

Nineteen communities will receive awards for excellence in downtown revitalization at the North Carolina Main Street and Small Town Main Street Awards Ceremony Wednesday, March 14 at 6 p.m. Deputy Secretary for Rural Economic Development and Workforce Napoleon Wallace and Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development Kenny Flowers will present in categories that include economic vitality, design, promotion and organization.

Nineteen communities will receive awards for excellence in downtown revitalization at the North Carolina Main Street and Small Town Main Street Awards Ceremony Wednesday, March 14 at 6 p.m. Deputy Secretary for Rural Economic Development and Workforce Napoleon Wallace and Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development Kenny Flowers will present in categories that include economic vitality, design, promotion and organization.