Press Releases

Governor Josh Stein and North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley are encouraging North Carolina employers to hire veterans and to apply for recognition with a HIRE Vets Medallion Award, an official program of the U.S. Department of Labor.The application period runs through April 30, 2025.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce held the 50th annual Veterans Employment Services Training Conference this week in Cherokee. The conference provided professional development for the department’s NCWorks Veterans Services team members, highlighted other programs and organizations serving veterans, and celebrated the state’s longstanding partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment & Training Service (VETS) to support both jobseekers and employers.

The state’s seasonally adjusted February 2025 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from January’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.1 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 3,448 over the month to 5,098,782 and increased 3,285 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 1,813 over the month to 195,627 and increased 9,410 over the year.

Yesterday, Governor Stein submitted the state’s proposed Action Plan for a $1.4 billion federal disaster recovery grant to address unmet housing, infrastructure, and economic revitalization needs in western North Carolina. 

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.

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.   

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 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.