News & Media
North Carolina Department of Commerce Releases The Latest Regional Labor Market Overviews
The Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) of the North Carolina Department of Commerce has recently released North Carolina’s long-term employment projections through 2034.
Here’s what you need to know:
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North Carolina’s job growth over the next decade will be driven primarily by service industries, which are expected to account for about 91% of new jobs. Healthcare and Social Assistance leads all sectors, adding nearly 79,000 jobs due to an aging population and rising demand for services.
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Manufacturing employment is expected to remain largely flat, while agriculture continues a gradual decline. At the same time, most of the state’s 599,000 annual job openings will come from turnover rather than new job creation.
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Growth will be concentrated in a few key industries: healthcare, professional and technical services (including IT and business services), hospitality and food services, and finance and insurance.
Charlotte Region Information
Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, and Wilmington are expected to exceed the statewide job growth rate over the next decade. The Charlotte Region ranks among the strongest in North Carolina, tied with Raleigh-Durham for projected growth and leading all regions in total net job gains with approximately 96,081 jobs. The top projected growth sector for job creation in Charlotte prosperity zone over the next decade is Healthcare and Social Assistance.
Charlotte’s job growth is not just in lower-wage roles. While many openings will come from turnover in lower-paying jobs, nearly 40% of new jobs in the region are expected to pay above $50,000, positioning Charlotte as a state leader in higher-wage job creation.
Charlotte Workforce:
Across all regions, jobs requiring some level of postsecondary education are expected to grow faster than those requiring less education. The Charlotte region’s job market is increasingly favoring skilled, educated talent. While entry-level opportunities remain widely available, the fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs will require education beyond high school — especially associate’s and bachelor’s degrees.
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