Press Releases

—The state’s seasonally adjusted May unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, decreasing 0.3 of a percentage point from April’s revised rate.  The national rate declined 0.3 of a percentage point to 4.7 percent. North Carolina’s May 2016 unemployment rate was 0.7 of a percentage point lower than a year ago.  The number of people employed increased 6,870 over the month to 4,618,342 and increased 142,023 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 13,589 over the month to 250,544, and decreased 25,278 over the year.

Governor Pat McCrory, N.C. Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. announced today that Porter’s Group LLC will expand its North Carolina presence with a new facility in Cleveland County. The company will hire an additional 44 workers over the coming three years as it invests $3.75 million there.

—Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 95 of North Carolina’s counties in April, increased in three, and remained unchanged in two.  Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 9.5 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.7 percent.  Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases and one remained unchanged. Among the Metro areas, Rocky Mount at 7.6 percent experienced the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.9 percent.  The April not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 5.0 percent.

Raleigh, N.C. -- As we remember those servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country on this Memorial Day, Governor Pat McCrory is also encouraging employers to hire military veterans to grow their businesses. North Carolina’s veterans are a talented pool of individuals whose skills and approach to teamwork make them a smart addition to any business.

Governor Pat McCrory celebrated the grand opening of Morinaga Co. & Ltd. in Mebane today. Morinaga was one of the first companies Governor McCrory met with after entering office to help recruit them to North Carolina. In September 2013, the governor announced the company's plans to create 90 new jobs and invest $48 million in a 120,000 square foot production plant in Orange County.

— The Division of Employment Security (DES) has begun to collect unpaid unemployment insurance taxes from employers through a federal program called the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). The Division implemented TOP originally for the recovery of unemployment insurance benefit overpayments to claimants in 2013. In January 2016, DES leveraged this process to implement the recovery of unpaid employer taxes. States have recently been given permission by the federal government to run the TOP program for unpaid unemployment insurance taxes.

— The state's seasonally adjusted April unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from March's revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 5.0 percent. North Carolina's April 2016 unemployment rate was 0.4 of a percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of people employed increased 20,245 over the month to 4,611,868 and increased 141,785 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 1,357 over the month to 264,491, and decreased 10,571 over the year.

Highlights Tourism Week

“Site Selection” Magazine Awards State Its ‘Prosperity Cup’ for 2015

— Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina's counties in March. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 13.3 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 4.2 percent. All 15 of the state's metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the Metro areas, Rocky Mount at 7.6 percent experienced the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 4.4 percent. The March not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 5.4 percent.