Topics Related to Workforce

North Carolina’s August Employment Figures Released

The state’s seasonally adjusted August 2022 unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, increasing 0.1 of a percentage point from July’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.7 percent.

North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 1.3 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 1,375 over the month to 4,944,797 and increased 198,133 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 7,904 over the month to 179,561 and decreased 57,547 over the year.

North Carolina Department of Commerce accepting applications from local workforce boards for American Rescue Plan Act grants

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is now accepting applications from local workforce development boards for special grants designed to help jobseekers and businesses in today’s tight labor market. The department’s Workforce Solutions division is making the grants available, from federal funds allocated to North Carolina through the American Rescue Plan Act.

North Carolina's July County and Area Unemployment Figures Released

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in July. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.6 percent while Buncombe, Swain, and Chatham Counties each had the lowest at 2.9 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 6.0 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 2.9 percent. The July not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.7 percent.

North Carolina’s July Employment Figures Released

The state’s seasonally adjusted July 2022 unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, remaining unchanged from June’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.5 percent.

North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased 1.5 percentage points from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 14,216 over the month to 4,943,277 and increased 213,715 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 558 over the month to 171,711 and decreased 70,710 over the year.

North Carolina's June County and Area Unemployment Figures Released

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 98 of North Carolina’s counties in June and decreased in two. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.0 percent while Orange and Buncombe Counties each had the lowest at 3.3 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 6.5 percent while Asheville and Durham-Chapel Hill each had the lowest at 3.4 percent. The June not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.1 percent.

Governor Cooper and U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo Announce Significant Federal Funding to Build Clean Energy Workforce Training Program in North Carolina

Today, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper joined U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo to announce that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $23.7 million American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge grant to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to create STEPs4GROWTH, a clean energy workforce training program.

North Carolina’s June Employment Figures Released

The state’s seasonally adjusted June 2022 unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, remaining unchanged from May’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 12,675 over the month to 4,929,133 and increased 215,137 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 1,767 over the month to 172,658 and decreased 74,565 over the year.

NCWorks.gov Website Again Serving Jobseekers and Employers After Outage

North Carolina’s jobs portal, NCWorks.gov, is back online and available for use by jobseekers and employers.

Statement on Service Outage for NCWorks.gov Website

North Carolina’s online jobs portal, NCWorks.gov, is currently offline due to a cyber incident on Sunday, June 26. The state’s vendor that built and manages the website’s technology platform, Geographic Solutions, Inc. (GSI), reports they are working around the clock to restore service as quickly as possible.

The NCWorks system program continues to serve job seekers and employers in-person through the statewide network of NCWorks Career Centers and by phone.

North Carolina’s May County and Area Employment Figures Released

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 89 of North Carolina’s counties in May, decreased in six, and remained unchanged in five. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.3 percent while Chatham and Orange Counties each had the lowest at 2.9 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.9 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 3.0 percent. The May not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.6 percent.