Topics Related to Lead Feed

Former offenders face barriers to re-entering the labor market after release from prison. This article describes the workforce programs available to offenders during and after incarceration in North Carolina, and reports the employment outcomes of those who participate in these programs, showing that these programs can be important pathways to re-entry.

While U.S. wage growth remains slow, you may have read that it’s picked up steam in recent months. We’re interested in the extent to which that’s true in North Carolina and where it might be happening in our state’s economy.

LEAD’s career rating system has been updated for the new 2026 projections.  This entry will describe the changes and where you can find more career information.

In November, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates increased in 56 of North Carolina's 100 counties.

North Carolina's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged from October’s revised rate of 3.6 percent.

We’ve recently shown that employment is growing in High Wage Industries, but are their wages growing more than middle- or low-wage industries?

The Durham-Chapel Hill MSA leads NC’s metro areas in average wage.  However, over the past decade, that gap has narrowed.  While job growth has been solid, the loss of jobs in particular high-paying industries has contributed to a meager increase in the Durham-Chapel Hill MSA’s average wage.

North Carolina’s growing economy is making it easier for jobseekers to find employment in our state. This article describes how our red-hot labor market has bolstered the outcomes of some of our state’s workforce programs and affected enrollment trends in our state’s public universities and community colleges.

In October, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates increased in all of North Carolina's 100 counties.

Recently, the Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) of NC Commerce released the latest Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data.  This data is from 2018 Quarter 2, and represents one of the best sources of economic data for North Carolina and its smaller regions, including Workforce Development Boards (WDBs).