Press Releases

Today Governor Josh Stein announced MST Rebar Inc., a fiberglass rebar supplier, will create 83 new jobs in Bladen County. The company will invest more than $15.5 million to locate its first U.S. fiberglass rebar manufacturing facility in the town of Bladenboro.“North Carolina has the largest and most talented advanced manufacturing workforce in the Southeast – and it’s a great place to live,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We are pleased to welcome MST Rebar to our state.”

Governor Josh Stein today announced that the Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 21 grant requests for local governments totaling $9,815,885. The grants include commitments creating a total of 758 jobs, 489 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects is expected to attract more than $179 million in private and public investment.

Today Governor Josh Stein announced Judco Manufacturing, Inc., an automotive supplier, will create 60 new jobs in Greene County. The company will invest more than $5.3 million to move its headquarters and research and development operations to Snow Hill.

Today, Governor Josh Stein announced Cardon Rehabilitation & Medical Equipment USA, LLC, a manufacturer of customizable powered treatment tables and exercise equipment, will add 20 new jobs in Lenoir County. The company will invest more than $4 million to establish its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility in Kinston.

The Division of Employment Security is ready to help federal government workers affected by the government shutdown.Employees in North Carolina who are furloughed or lose their jobs due to the temporary federal government shutdown may apply for unemployment benefits as soon as the first day the shutdown occurs.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 95 counties in August 2025, decreased in two, and remained unchanged in three. Edgecombe and Halifax Counties each had the highest unemployment rate at 6.1 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 3.0 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.5 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.5 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.0 percent.

Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed September 29 through October 4 North Carolina Manufacturing Week. With the eighth-largest manufacturing economy in the United States and the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast, manufacturing supports every sector of North Carolina’s economy.

Governor Josh Stein announced today that Walmart, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) plans to open a new fulfillment center in Kings Mountain. The estimated $300 million investment will create more than 300 new jobs in Gaston County. The 1.2 million–square-foot facility, located at 799 Sara Lee Access Road, is expected to open in 2027.

In the 12 months since Hurricane Helene damaged Western North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein’s Commerce Department has launched a new division to put $1.4 billion of federal recovery dollars to work, accepted more than 3,400 applications from homeowners seeking recovery help, encouraged tourists to return to the mountains, and paid more than $96 million in disaster-related unemployment insurance benefits to people in need. These key milestones in the state’s ongoing recovery efforts reaffirm North Carolina’s commitment to help families, workers, and businesses rebuild stronger than ever.

The state’s seasonally adjusted August 2025 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from July’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.3 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 2,394 over the month to 5,088,201 and decreased 3,168 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 142 over the month to 194,915 and increased 722 over the year.