Topics Related to Workforce

The North Carolina Department of Commerce held the 50th annual Veterans Employment Services Training Conference this week in Cherokee. The conference provided professional development for the department’s NCWorks Veterans Services team members, highlighted other programs and organizations serving veterans, and celebrated the state’s longstanding partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment & Training Service (VETS) to support both jobseekers and employers.

The state’s seasonally adjusted February 2025 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from January’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.1 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 3,448 over the month to 5,098,782 and increased 3,285 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 1,813 over the month to 195,627 and increased 9,410 over the year.

Today, Governor Josh Stein announced an executive order to create a Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, chaired by Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley, State Senator Eddie Settle, and NC Community Colleges President Dr. Jeffrey Cox. He also met with students at Forsyth Tech Community College and toured the Transportation Technology Center. 

Today, Governor Josh Stein launched a new website to welcome talented and dedicated people to apply to work for the state of North Carolina. This website encourages people who were displaced due to Hurricane Helene or recent federal cuts to consider coming to work with the state of North Carolina. It also provides resources for servicemembers, their spouses, and veterans to apply for positions in North Carolina state government.   

The N.C. Division of Employment Security (DES) is introducing a new online record-keeping process for work search activities for anyone filing new claims on or after March 23 in Northampton, Hertford, Gates, Camden, Pasquotank, Chowan, Perquimans, Currituck, Bertie, Halifax, Martin, Washington, Tyrrell, Dare, Pitt, Beaufort, or Hyde counties.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 99 counties in January 2025 and remained unchanged in one. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.3 percent while Camden County had the lowest at 3.0 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Asheville had the highest rate at 6.0 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.2 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.0 percent.

The deadline to timely apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been extended to April 7, 2025, for 39 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina. The previous deadline was March 10, 2025.

The state’s seasonally adjusted January 2025 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from December’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.0 percent.North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 5,845 over the month to 5,095,312 and increased 672 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 1,247 over the month to 197,455 and increased 10,836 over the year.

There are only four days left to timely apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) for 39 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina. The deadline to timely file for DUA benefits is March 10. Approximately 19,680 survivors of Hurricane Helene have received $81,175,356 in disaster-related unemployment benefits since the storm swept across Western North Carolina in late September 2024. This surpasses the number of people who received benefits from Hurricanes Matthew (2016), Florence (2018) and Fred (2021) combined.

The March 10th deadline to timely apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) for 39 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina is quickly approaching. DES will review late applications on a case-by-case basis. Applications for DUA can be filed online at des.nc.gov.