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 secured a $10 million federal grant to help local workforce boards put people back to work, all in response to Governor Josh Stein’s priority to help western North Carolina recover.

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. He also met with students at Forsyth Tech Community College and toured the Transportation Technology Center. 

The N.C. Division of Employment Security (DES) is introducing a new online record-keeping process for work search activities for anyone filing new claims on or after March 23 in Northampton, Hertford, Gates, Camden, Pasquotank, Chowan, Perquimans, Currituck, Bertie, Halifax, Martin, Washington, Tyrrell, Dare, Pitt, Beaufort, or Hyde counties.

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. Among the metro areas, Asheville had the highest rate at 6.0 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.2 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.0 percent.

Today, Governor Josh Stein launched a new website to welcome talented and dedicated people to apply to work for the state of North Carolina. This website encourages people who were displaced due to Hurricane Helene or recent federal cuts to consider coming to work with the state of North Carolina. It also provides resources for servicemembers, their spouses, and veterans to apply for positions in North Carolina state government.   

Today, Governor Josh Stein signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1 – his first bill signed into law. Governor Stein was joined by leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly, members of his Western North Carolina Advisory Committee, law enforcement officials, and agricultural leaders.  

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.“We are delighted to welcome Yeadon Fabric Domes to Cumberland County,” said Governor Stein. “Our manufacturing leadership and textile legacy woven with our strategic location and excellent quality of life will continue to attract innovative, global companies to our great state.”  

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.

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.

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 Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 5,845 over the month to 5,095,312 and increased 672 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 1,247 over the month to 197,455 and increased 10,836 over the year.