Press Releases

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 86 of North Carolina’s counties in June 2023, decreased in five, and remained unchanged in nine. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.4 percent while Swain County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.2 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 2.9 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.6 percent.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce and several of its state partners provided updates on the state’s economic development strategic plan during a virtual First in Talent Town Hall today. The 2023 annual economic performance evaluation report noted that the Commerce department has made progress on 32 of the 44 tactics in the plan since launching in 2021.

CommScope [NASDAQ: COMM], a global telecommunications leader, plans to add 250 new jobs with a $60.3 million investment to expand its fiber-optic cable manufacturing operations in Catawba County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

The state’s seasonally adjusted June 2023 unemployment rate was 3.3 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from May’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.6 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 0.3 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 14,582 over the month to 5,047,816 and increased 60,958 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 3,058 over the month to 172,680 and decreased 12,620 over the year.

Local governments in 69 North Carolina counties can now apply for funding from a program associated with the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC), a state and federal partnership agency crafted along the model of the long-established Appalachian Regional Commission. The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division manages the state’s engagement with SCRC.The inaugural grant cycle from SCRC’s State Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Program (SEID) will provide $4.5 million for projects in North Carolina.

Honda Aircraft Company, maker of the renowned HondaJet light aircraft, will develop and produce a longer-range version of the plane at its Greensboro facilities, creating 280 jobs Governor Roy Cooper announced today.  The company will invest $55.7 million in Guilford County for production of its new HondaJet 2600 model, bringing its total investment in the state to over $335 million.

TTX Company, a major provider of railcars and related freight car management services to the North American rail industry, will move its headquarters to Charlotte, creating 150 jobs Governor Roy Cooper announced today.  The company will invest $14.5 million in Mecklenburg County.

CNBC has named North Carolina as America’s Top State for Business in 2023 for the second year in a row. This morning, Governor Roy Cooper joined CNBC’s Scott Cohn at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville for a live broadcast where the winner was revealed.

North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders issued a statement today, following CNBC’s announcement naming North Carolina “America’s Top State for Business” for the second year in a row:

The North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center has selected Mebane and Zebulon as the latest “North Carolina Main Street Communities”, while Thomasville has been selected to participate in the Downtown Associate Community (DAC) program.