Press Releases

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 98 of North Carolina’s counties in April 2023 and increased in two. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.8 percent while Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.4 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.5 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 2.5 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.1 percent.

Thirteen rural communities from across the state have been selected to participate in the Commerce Department’s program to increase their capacity to plan, implement, and manage economic development programs and opportunities.

alpitronic Americas LLC, a manufacturer of high-power electric vehicle charging stations, will create 300 new jobs in Mecklenburg County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $18.3 million to locate its United States headquarters operation and service center in Charlotte.

Phase Change Solutions, a manufacturer of products for temperature management, will add 35 new jobs in Guilford County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company’s investment in the new U.S. headquarters and manufacturing operation in the City of Greensboro is expected to be more than $3.5 million.

The state’s seasonally adjusted April 2023 unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from March’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.4 percent.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has added a feature to the NCcareers.org website, allowing career explorers to use their NCWorks.gov user name and password to log in, create a personal profile, and save their career research for future reference.

North Carolina ranks first in the nation for the third year in a row on a closely watched measurement of state business competitiveness. Site Selection magazine’s 2023 ‘Prosperity Cup’ is awarded based on ten factors of economic performance, including the total number of new and expanded facilities in the state, capital investment, and total number of new jobs created.

Atom Power, the pioneer in networked energy, will expand its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Mecklenburg County, creating 205 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest nearly $4.2 million in Huntersville."North Carolina leads the nation in the transition to the clean energy economy,” said Governor Cooper. “Electric Vehicles are key to this transition and I’m pleased Atom Power is expanding in Huntersville to make critical parts for EV charging stations which will be located throughout North Carolina.”

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that the North Carolina tourism economy reached its highest level ever with travelers spending more than $33.3 billion on trips to and within the state. The previous record of $29.22 billion was set in pre-pandemic 2019.“Tourism is a vital economic force in our state supporting thousands of small businesses and hundreds of thousands of jobs,” Governor Cooper said. “We can take pride that visitors see North Carolina as a diverse, inclusive and welcoming place and we all need to work to keep it that way.”