Press Releases

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 99 counties in January 2025 and remained unchanged in one. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.3 percent while Camden County had the lowest at 3.0 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Asheville had the highest rate at 6.0 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.2 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.0 percent.

The N.C. Division of Employment Security (DES) is introducing a new online record-keeping process for work search activities for anyone filing new claims on or after March 23 in Northampton, Hertford, Gates, Camden, Pasquotank, Chowan, Perquimans, Currituck, Bertie, Halifax, Martin, Washington, Tyrrell, Dare, Pitt, Beaufort, or Hyde counties.

Today, Governor Josh Stein signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1 – his first bill signed into law. Governor Stein was joined by leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly, members of his Western North Carolina Advisory Committee, law enforcement officials, and agricultural leaders.  

Today, Governor Josh Stein announced Yeadon Fabric Domes, LLC, a manufacturer of air supported structures, will create 72 new jobs in Cumberland County. The company will invest $4.6 million to build a manufacturing facility in Fayetteville.“We are delighted to welcome Yeadon Fabric Domes to Cumberland County,” said Governor Stein. “Our manufacturing leadership and textile legacy woven with our strategic location and excellent quality of life will continue to attract innovative, global companies to our great state.”  

The deadline to timely apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been extended to April 7, 2025, for 39 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina. The previous deadline was March 10, 2025.

North Carolinians still have time to help shape the state’s proposed Action Plan for a pending $1.4 billion federal disaster recovery grant for western North Carolina, but the required 30-day public comment period will close at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 20.

The state’s seasonally adjusted January 2025 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from December’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.0 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 5,845 over the month to 5,095,312 and increased 672 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 1,247 over the month to 197,455 and increased 10,836 over the year.

Forty-seven individuals and organizations will be honored as Main Street Champions at a recognition ceremony on March 13th in Mooresville, celebrating their outstanding contributions to downtown revitalization and community building in 2024. With the addition of this year’s recipients, the North Carolina Department of Commerce has now recognized a total of 962 Main Street Champions since 2000. The ceremony is a key highlight of the annual North Carolina Main Street Conference, the nation’s largest statewide downtown revitalization gathering.

Ten communities will receive awards for excellence in downtown revitalization during the annual North Carolina Main Street Awards Ceremony, Wednesday, March 12 in Mooresville. North Carolina Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary of Rural Development Kenny Flowers and N.C. Main Street and Rural Planning Center Director Liz Parham will present awards in design, organization, and economic vitality.

Today, Governor Josh Stein announced that Ralliant Corporation, a global company providing precision technologies for a range of industry sectors will establish its global headquarters in Wake County, creating 180 jobs.  The company will invest $2.1 million in the North Hills area of Raleigh."North Carolina’s technology hub has attracted another great company to our state,” said Governor Stein. “We welcome Ralliant to the Research Triangle, where they can tap into our highly skilled workforce and workforce training systems to supercharge their business.”