Workforce & Employment
The southeastern region has a workforce of over 400,000 people employed in a diverse spectrum of industry sectors - advanced manufacturing, food processing, defense contracting, biotechnology, research, nuclear energy research and manufacturing, and many others. North Carolina workers have the highest productivity rates of all fifty states in the nation. Eleven percent of the regional workforce is engaged in manufacturing. The workforce is growing in the region, as more companies choose to locate and expand here, and as the excellent quality of life attracts people form around the nation and the world.
A Right-to-Work State
North Carolina is an “at-will” employment state and one of 23 states with a “right-to-work” law. Closed shops and union shops are not permitted. An employer may not require an employee to join a union, nor may an employer require an employee to refrain from joining a union.
Employment and Wages
| Industry | Employment | % of Total |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting | 6,523 | 1.8% |
| Construction | 18,828 | 5.1% |
| Manufacturing | 38,494 | 10.4% |
| Wholesale Trade | 10,083 | 2.7% |
| Retail Trade | 47,659 | 12.9% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 10,181 | 2.7% |
| Information | 5,551 | 1.5% |
| Finance & Insurance | 8,364 | 2.3% |
| Real Estate & Rental & Leasing | 5,370 | 1.5% |
| Professional & Technical Services | 14,293 | 3.9% |
| Management of Companies & Enterprises | 2,346 | 0.6% |
| Administrative & Waste Services | 20,007 | 5.4% |
| Educational Services | 34,672 | 9.4% |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | 61,195 | 16.5% |
| Arts, Entertainment & Recreation | 5,034 | 1.4% |
| Accommodation & Food Services | 39,085 | 10.6% |
| Other Services Ex. Pub Admin | 8,371 | 2.3% |
| Public Administration | 31,689 | 8.6% |
| Government | 82,637 | 22.3% |
| Industry | NCSE | % of Total | NCSE as % of NC |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting | $447 | 66.8% | 87.8% |
| Construction | $777 | 116.2% | 100.5% |
| Manufacturing | $878 | 131.2% | 91.9% |
| Wholesale Trade | $812 | 121.3% | 72.9% |
| Retail Trade | $453 | 67.7% | 95.5% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | $751 | 112.3% | 92.3% |
| Information | $774 | 115.7% | 69.7% |
| Finance & Insurance | $860 | 128.6% | 72.3% |
| Real Estate & Rental & Leasing | $588 | 87.9% | 85.8% |
| Professional & Technical Services | $1,057 | 158.1% | 87.2% |
| Management of Companies & Enterprises | $782 | 116.8% | 55.6% |
| Administrative & Waste Services | $496 | 74.2% | 88.2% |
| Educational Services | $752 | 112.4% | 94.5% |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $742 | 110.9% | 92.9% |
| Arts, Entertainment & Recreation | $351 | 52.5% | 76.0% |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $266 | 39.7% | 92.2% |
| Other Services Ex. Pub Admin | $483 | 72.2% | 92.2% |
| Public Administration | $834 | 124.6% | 103.2% |
| Government | $835 | 124.8% | 102.2% |