Press Releases

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.

BioAgilytix Labs, LLC, a leading life science testing company, will create 878 jobs and invest $61.5 million in Durham, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The project marks a major expansion of the contract research organization’s operations in North Carolina’s Research Triangle region.

East Coast Steel Fabrication, Inc. will add 28 jobs to its production operations in Perquimans County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The privately held company, which provides heavy steel fabrication for barges and marine structures, will expand its facility in Hertford, where it will invest $482,202.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 95 of North Carolina’s counties in September, decreased in three, and remained unchanged in two. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 12.0 percent, while Watauga County had the lowest at 4.6 percent. Thirteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases, one decreased, and one remained unchanged. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 9.4 percent and Durham-Chapel Hill had the lowest at 6.0 percent. The September not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 7.0 percent.

Eastern Wholesale Fence, LLC, a New York-based fence manufacturing company, will create 142 jobs in Rowan County, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $17.5 million to create a manufacturing center of excellence in Salisbury to better fulfill demand for their product.