Topics Related to Workforce

Residents of 39 counties may now apply to participate in the temporary jobs program that puts North Carolinians to work on recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Helene, N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley announced today. This represents an expansion from the 25-county area that was first announced in October.

The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been extended to February 6, 2025, for people in 39 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina. Applications for DUA can be filed at des.nc.gov. This extension to February 6, 2025, maintains consistency with the deadlines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and allows the Division of Employment Security to continue to provide temporary financial support to people impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce launched a new data dashboard tool this week that will provide timely insights into the demographic characteristics of people applying for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The dashboard offers aggregate data that maintains individual privacy while providing information into the industries, occupations, and demographics of those seeking UI assistance.

A partnership in the Piedmont Triad is the winner of a competitive grant totaling $125,000 to support an innovative effort addressing reentry workforce challenges, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

Today, the North Carolina Department of Commerce announced the release of the NC Taskforce for Offshore Wind Economic Resource Strategies’ (NC TOWERS) final report to Governor Roy Cooper and the N.C. General Assembly.

The state’s seasonally adjusted November 2024 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from October’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.2 percent.

Today, Governor Roy Cooper celebrated the progress made during his time in office building and strengthening North Carolina’s workforce. The Governor spoke at Durham Technical Community College and was joined by Durham Tech Community College President J.B. Buxton, Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Board Executive Director Wendy Walker-Fox and Durham Tech student and Finish Line Grant recipient Laura Harris.

The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been extended to January 7, 2025, for people in 39 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 91 counties in October 2024, decreased in three, and remained unchanged in six. Buncombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.8 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 2.6 percent. Fourteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases and one remained unchanged. Among the metro areas, Asheville had the highest rate at 7.3 percent while Durham-Chapel Hill and Wilmington each had the lowest at 2.9 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.6 percent.

The Division of Employment Security (DES) continues to support people in 39 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene through disaster-related unemployment assistance. To date, approximately $29.9 million has been paid for Helene-related disaster unemployment claims.[Note to media: the number of claims and amount paid is updated daily on the DES website: des.nc.gov.]