Meihui Bodane Assistant Secretary for Policy, Research & Strategy | North Carolina Department of Commerce
Meihui Bodane Assistant Secretary for Policy, Research & Strategy | North Carolina Department of Commerce
The Labor and Economic Analysis Division has unveiled the 2032 Regional Employment Projections, predicting workforce demand for nearly 140 industries and 840 occupations in North Carolina. These forecasts analyze historical employment trends and economic factors, aiming to shape education and workforce strategy across the state's sixteen regions.
The projections indicate job growth in all areas by 2032, with regions like Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, and Wilmington anticipated to expand most rapidly. Meanwhile, the Rocky Mount-Wilson region is predicted to experience the slowest growth at 1.5%.
An estimated one-third of the state's new jobs will emerge in Charlotte, known for its financial sector dominance. The region is expected to concentrate three out of every ten new roles in Production and Construction & Extraction occupations statewide.
Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, Hickory, and Wilmington are identified as areas where over half of new jobs will offer median wages of $45,000 or more. Other regions will mostly see growth in lower-wage positions.
Production jobs are set to rise slightly, with twelve regions increasing such roles, though four will witness declines. Office and Administrative Support positions present mixed forecasts, with growth in six regions and declines in ten.
Key fast-growing sectors include Healthcare Support, Food Preparation and Serving Related, and Personal Care and Service occupations. Food Preparation and Serving Related jobs, often lower-paying with high turnover, are anticipated to be the most numerous in net new roles and yearly openings across regions.
While roles needing some post-secondary education are expected to grow faster, over half of new jobs will require no formal training or just a high school diploma. Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, and Wilmington lead in projected demand for roles needing a bachelor's degree. Raleigh-Durham is also noted for the highest projected increase in positions necessitating post-secondary education.
Long-term employment projections are crucial for education and workforce planning, helping schools and training providers align programs with labor market needs. This approach aims to equip students and job seekers with relevant skills suited to employers' evolving demands. Further exploration of these projections is possible through detailed data tables and dashboards.
Alerts Sign-up