Press Releases

The state’s seasonally adjusted December 2024 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from November’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.1 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 1,224 over the month to 5,066,954 and increased 5,467 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 188 over the month to 196,926 and increased 9,526 over the year.

Today, Governor Stein announced that Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business (NYSE: RTX), will expand its turbine airfoil manufacturing plant in Buncombe County, a significant vote of confidence in western North Carolina. The company’s expansion project will create 325 additional jobs and includes an additional investment of $285 million in Asheville.  

People who were paid unemployment benefits in 2024 can now view or download their 1099-G tax statements through their secure MyNCUIBenefits account at the N.C. Division of Employment Security (DES) website. A paper copy will be mailed by Jan. 31 to those who requested it with a delivery expected in early February.

The State of North Carolina announced 16,956 new jobs in the state in 2024, representing 218 business recruitment, expansion or rural development projects that engaged with the North Carolina Department of Commerce or its team at the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. in 2024.  These projects will bring $15.2 billion of capital investment into the state.

Residents of 39 counties may now apply to participate in the temporary jobs program that puts North Carolinians to work on recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Helene, N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley announced today. This represents an expansion from the 25-county area that was first announced in October.

Governor Josh Stein Signs Five Helene Recovery Executive Orders in First Action as Governor Today, Governor Josh Stein signed five executive orders to bring much-needed relief to people in western North Carolina, including accelerating temporary housing and the repair of private roads and bridges.

The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been extended to February 6, 2025, for people in 39 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina. Applications for DUA can be filed at des.nc.gov. This extension to February 6, 2025, maintains consistency with the deadlines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and allows the Division of Employment Security to continue to provide temporary financial support to people impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce awarded 20 Community Development Block Grant - Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) fund requests to 20 local governments totaling $25.8 million. The requests will provide housing and public improvements for low- and moderate-income North Carolinians.“We’ve continued to make major investments in North Carolina communities that need support with affordable housing,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “These neighborhood revitalization grants will help rural communities improve economic prosperity for all of their residents.”

Film productions across the state generated more than $302 million in direct in-state spending in 2024. This year is the second highest year-end total since 2015, when the state’s current film grant program began, and the third highest total since 2000, when the state began offering film incentives to support its film industry.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce launched a new data dashboard tool this week that will provide timely insights into the demographic characteristics of people applying for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The dashboard offers aggregate data that maintains individual privacy while providing information into the industries, occupations, and demographics of those seeking UI assistance.