Press Releases

The state’s seasonally adjusted May 2022 unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, remaining unchanged from April’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 1.6 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 33,419 over the month to 4,916,580 and increased 218,327 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 2,361 over the month to 170,970 and decreased 76,321 over the year.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 16 grant requests to local governments totaling $3,938,829, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 472 jobs, 137 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $67 million in private investment.    

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that 30 local governments in rural areas across the state have been awarded grants from the Rural Transformation Grant Fund, a new source of support for rural economic development projects in North Carolina funded by the federal American Rescue Plan.

Cabinet manufacturer Design Mode Cabinetry will create 139 new jobs in Duplin County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $13 million to establish a manufacturing facility in the Town of Warsaw. “Design Mode is another great win for eastern North Carolina,” said Governor Cooper. “Having the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast coupled with our premier quality of life and central location, Duplin County will provide a strong foundation for this company's success.”

Snack food company, Lotus Bakeries, will create 62 new jobs in Alamance County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. In a second expansion in a year, the company will invest more than $84 million to add a new production facility at its Mebane location. “The decision of Lotus Bakeries once again to expand operations in Alamance County shows that when businesses come here, they can grow here,” said Governor Cooper. “Lotus knows the strength of our economy and workforce and this expansion underscores their desire to continue thriving in North Carolina.”

North Carolina is one of two states that has received Area Development magazine’s inaugural 2022 Platinum Shovel award which recognizes states that went beyond the gold standard for investment and job creation. Tennessee is the second state receiving the honor.

Dymax Corporation, a global chemical and plastics manufacturer, will open a new manufacturing center and create 227 jobs in Union County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $46.7 million in the City of Monroe.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 83 of North Carolina’s counties in April, increased in four, and remained unchanged in 13. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.4 percent while Orange and Chatham Counties each had the lowest at 2.6 percent. Twelve of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases and three remained unchanged. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.8 percent while Asheville and Durham-Chapel Hill each had the lowest at 2.8 percent. The April not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.4 percent.

D’Artagnan, Inc., a specialty food company distributor, will create 23 new jobs in Granville County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $4 million to locate a warehouse and distribution facility in the City of Oxford. “We are glad to welcome D’Artagnan to Granville County and North Carolina,” said Governor Cooper. “Our East Coast location and capable workforce will greatly benefit the company’s operations and growth here in the Southeast.”

Nineteen rural communities from across the state have been selected to participate in a unique new program to increase their capacity to plan, implement, and manage economic development programs and opportunities.  The Rural Community Capacity (RC2) program, a pilot initiative from the Commerce Department involving Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business, will welcome its first cohort of participants in Boone today (Tuesday, May 24).