Press Releases

The Division of Employment Security is ready to help federal government workers affected by the government shutdown.Employees in North Carolina who are furloughed or lose their jobs due to the temporary federal government shutdown may apply for unemployment benefits as soon as the first day the shutdown occurs.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 95 counties in August 2025, decreased in two, and remained unchanged in three. Edgecombe and Halifax Counties each had the highest unemployment rate at 6.1 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 3.0 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.5 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.5 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.0 percent.

Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed September 29 through October 4 North Carolina Manufacturing Week. With the eighth-largest manufacturing economy in the United States and the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast, manufacturing supports every sector of North Carolina’s economy.

Governor Josh Stein announced today that Walmart, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) plans to open a new fulfillment center in Kings Mountain. The estimated $300 million investment will create more than 300 new jobs in Gaston County. The 1.2 million–square-foot facility, located at 799 Sara Lee Access Road, is expected to open in 2027.

In the 12 months since Hurricane Helene damaged Western North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein’s Commerce Department has launched a new division to put $1.4 billion of federal recovery dollars to work, accepted more than 3,400 applications from homeowners seeking recovery help, encouraged tourists to return to the mountains, and paid more than $96 million in disaster-related unemployment insurance benefits to people in need. These key milestones in the state’s ongoing recovery efforts reaffirm North Carolina’s commitment to help families, workers, and businesses rebuild stronger than ever.

The state’s seasonally adjusted August 2025 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from July’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.3 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 2,394 over the month to 5,088,201 and decreased 3,168 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 142 over the month to 194,915 and increased 722 over the year.

Addressing a well-known gap that many innovative companies face, today the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation announced its latest round of funding to small businesses developing and commercializing new technologies in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Caregiving Workforce Strategic Leadership

Today in Wilmington, Governor Stein joined small business owners and members of North Carolina’s TV and film industry to announce that three television-streaming series and four independent feature-length films have been approved for North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grants. The productions, estimated to create more than 3,800 jobs in total, are expected to spend more than $131.6 million in locations across the state.

A new certification program from the North Carolina Department of Commerce aimed at strengthening small businesses through destination development strategies has named its first cohort to carry the designation Certified North Carolina Destination Business. The statewide initiative, launched through Commerce’s Main Street & Rural Planning Center in its Rural Economic Development Division, offers small businesses the tools and resources to be stronger, more resilient businesses that are better able to weather economic uncertainty.