View the Task Force’s 2025 Year-End Report Here
Today Governor Josh Stein announced the release of the North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education’s 2025 year-end report. Led by bipartisan co-chairs Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt and Senator Jim Burgin (NC-12), the Task Force has developed six recommendations to make child care accessible and affordable across North Carolina and has identified opportunities to implement the recommendations.
The state’s seasonally adjusted November 2025 unemployment rate was 3.8 percent. The national rate was 4.6 percent. October 2025 data are unavailable due to the lapse in appropriations.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 5,325 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 7,465 over the year.
Throughout 2025, the North Carolina Department of Commerce has played a central role in supporting western North Carolina’s recovery after Hurricane Helene, including delivering housing assistance, workforce support, and economic recovery resources to help communities stabilize and rebuild. Through coordinated efforts across multiple Commerce divisions, the state has assisted thousands of families, workers, and small businesses while laying the foundation for long-term resilience and economic strength.
Today Site Selection magazine ranked North Carolina the Top State for Workforce Development for 2026. Governor Josh Stein celebrated this ranking during a visit to Machine Specialties Inc. (MSI) in Whitsett, where he highlighted the state’s workforce investments and the recent recommendations of the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships.
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 98 counties in September 2025, increased in one, and remained unchanged in one. Halifax County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.6 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.1 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.2 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.7 percent.
Today Governor Josh Stein’s Council on Workforce and Apprentic
Dr. Andrea DeSantis, Assistant Secretary for Workforce Solutions at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to help shape one of the most significant federal workforce training reforms in years.
The state’s seasonally adjusted September 2025 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from August’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.4 percent.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 1,020 over the month to 5,089,209 and decreased 306 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 2,954 over the month to 197,807 and increased 2,499 over the year.
Governor Josh Stein has directed the Governor’s Council on W
Today Governor Josh Stein announced that North Carolina will celebrate “Employ A Veteran Week” during November 10-15 with a variety of events being held statewide to help connect veterans with jobs and other services.
“Veterans and their families bring invaluable skills and experience to North Carolina and to all kinds of organizations,” said Governor Josh Stein. “As we strive to be America’s most military-friendly state, we are committed to supporting veterans’ transition to good jobs in the civilian workforce as they find new ways to serve.”