North Raleigh Today

In July 2023, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced updates to the definitions of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) across the United States. These changes reflect shifts in population and economic growth, particularly in North Carolina, highlighting urban development trends within the state.

Despite being announced nearly 20 months ago, these updates have not yet been incorporated into Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. The new MSA definitions will be used for data updates related to Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), Current Employment Statistics (CES), and Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) starting with releases on March 17, 2025. The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data will follow shortly after. However, historical OEWS data will remain based on previous geographic definitions due to collection methods.

The changes include the addition of one new MSA and the expansion of three others. Moore County now forms the Southern Pines-Pinehurst MSA. Anson County has joined the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia MSA, Camden County is now part of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk MSA, and Brunswick County has moved from the Myrtle Beach MSA to the Wilmington MSA.

Conversely, Haywood County has been removed from the Asheville MSA, while the New Bern MSA—which comprised Craven, Jones, and Pamlico counties—has transitioned to a Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The updated list of MSAs in North Carolina includes:

- Asheville: Buncombe, Henderson, Madison

- Burlington: Alamance

- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia: Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union

- Durham-Chapel Hill: Chatham, Durham, Orange, Person

- Fayetteville: Cumberland, Hoke

- Greensboro-High Point: Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham

- Greenville: Pitt

- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba

- Jacksonville: Onslow

- Pinehurst-Southern Pines: Moore

- Raleigh-Cary: Franklin, Johnston, Wake

- Rocky Mount: Edgecombe Nash

- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk: Camden Currituck Gates

- Wilmington: Brunswick New Hanover Pender

- Winston-Salem: Davidson Davie Forsyth Stokes Yadkin

These designations are crucial for analyzing statistical data that can inform policies aimed at fostering regional economic growth. The OMB typically revises these definitions every decade following the census but may also make interim adjustments.