Topics Related to Workforce

To promote workforce development and strengthen connections between education and job readiness, Governor Roy Cooper has declared the week of January 28-February 1, 2019 as Career Pathways Week in North Carolina.

During the week, regional NCWorks Career Pathways teams will host workshops across the state aimed at raising awareness among K-12 and community college career counselors and teachers, as well as professionals who serve Vocational Rehabilitation clients and other special populations.

The state’s seasonally adjusted December unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, remaining unchanged from November’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.9 percent.

North Carolina’s December 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.9 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 4,299 over the month to 4,818,454 and increased 74,190 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 1,173 over the month to 178,436 and decreased 43,413 over the year. 

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 56 of North Carolina’s counties in November, decreased in 14, and remained unchanged in 30. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.6 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. Five of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases, three decreased, and seven remained unchanged. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 4.8 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 2.8 percent. The November not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.5 percent.

The state’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, remaining unchanged from October’s revised rate. The national rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent.

North Carolina’s November 2018 unemployment rate decreased 0.9 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 3,415 over the month to 4,814,098 and increased 68,418 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 4,294 over the month to 177,230 and decreased 44,690 over the year.

North Carolina is already benefiting from collaborative efforts to establish regional career pathways across the state, according to a new report prepared for the NCWorks Commission, Governor Roy Cooper’s statewide workforce development board. The state now has 35 NCWorks Certified Career Pathways, and the “impact report” focuses on the thirteen that had reached one year of implementation by June 30, 2018.

Seven additional counties are now eligible to participate in the temporary employment program that puts North Carolinians to work on recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Florence, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. To date, 51 counties have been declared eligible for the program. 

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in October. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.6 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.6 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 4.8 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 2.8 percent. The October not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.4 percent.

Yesterday (September 30) marked the start of 'North Carolina Manufacturing Week,’ as proclaimed by Governor Roy Cooper . The announcement brings attention to a business sector that employs nearly 465,000 North Carolinians, represents 22 percent of the state’s total private-sector economic output and offers young people a challenging and rewarding career path.

Meeting on the campus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College on Aug. 8, the NCWorks Commission approved new Career Pathways, discussed the connections between education and employer needs, and certified local Career Centers.

A manufacturer, a technology training partnership and four individual North Carolinians have won the Governor’s NCWorks Awards of Distinction for outstanding accomplishments and contributions related to workforce development, N.C. Commerce Secretary Anthony Copeland announced today. The recipients received awards earlier this month during a ceremony held in Greensboro as part of the annual NCWorks Partnership Conference.