Press Releases

Governor Josh Stein’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships is launching an effort to engage 50,000 employers as partners in building North Carolina’s talent pipeline. Reaching that level of connection with employers is one of the 11 goals that the Council established last year for growing the state’s workforce development efforts. 

Today Governor Josh Stein and Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development Reginald Speight visited the town of Edenton to showcase the state’s partnership with local governments to expand economic opportunity in rural North Carolina.  

Today Governor Josh Stein announced that North Carolina set a record for tourist spending in 2025, with travelers spending more than $37.2 billion on trips to and within the state, surpassing the previous record of $36.7 billion set in 2024.

The state’s seasonally adjusted March 2026 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from February’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.3 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 3,097 over the month to 5,107,523 and increased 18,671 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 3,946 over the month to 197,113 and decreased 4,109 over the year.

This week Governor Josh Stein is making the case for investing in North Carolina at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA Investment Summit. Yesterday Governor Stein participated in the Governors Attracting Global Investment panel, highlighting North Carolina's competitive advantage for foreign investment.

Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed May 3-9, 2026, to be Small Business Week to celebrate the impact of entrepreneurs and small businesses on North Carolina’s economy.“North Carolina communities are energized by the one million small businesses that innovate, create jobs, and spur growth,” said Governor Josh Stein. “As we celebrate Small Business Week, we recognize the immense contributions of entrepreneurs statewide and reaffirm our commitment to supporting their success and resiliency by fostering opportunity in every corner of the state.”

The North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education, co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt and Senator Jim Burgin (R-Harnett), convened today at the State Government Complex in Downtown Raleigh to brief legislators and the public on ways child care access affects our economy. Task Force members led the briefing alongside business community leaders and business executives who participate in ExCEL NC (Executives Championing Early Learning in North Carolina).

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 91 counties in February 2026, increased in five, and remained unchanged in four. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.8 percent while Camden County had the lowest at 3.0 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.3 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.3 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.8 percent.

Today Governor Josh Stein visited Davidson-Davie Community College for National Apprenticeship Week and celebrated the college’s work to train North Carolina’s nursing workforce.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce invites local governments, economic development professionals, and all members of the public to review and provide recommendations on a set of candidate areas across the state that could eventually be certified as North Carolina’s new Opportunity Zones.  Governor Josh Stein tapped the Department to solicit broad input regarding which of the qualifying low-income census tracts hold the most potential to attract investment and economic and housing development opportunities for the state.