Press Releases

In the six months since Hurricane Helene struck the state, the North Carolina Department of Commerce has launched a new Division focused on recovery, developed a $1.4 billion Action Plan for rebuilding homes, paid more than $91 million in disaster-related unemployment insurance benefits, and secu

Today, Governor Josh Stein announced an executive order to create a Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, chaired by Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley, State Senator Eddie Settle, and NC Community Colleges President Dr. Jeffrey Cox.

Today, Governor Josh Stein launched a new website to welcome talented and dedicated people to apply to work for the state of North Carolina.

The N.C.

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.

Today, Governor Josh Stein signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1 – his first bill signed into law.

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.

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.

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 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.