North Carolina has been ranked as the top state for workforce development in 2026 by Site Selection magazine. The announcement was made during Governor Josh Stein’s visit to Machine Specialties Inc. (MSI) in Whitsett, where he emphasized ongoing investments in the state’s workforce and discussed recent recommendations from the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships.
“North Carolina’s strength is our people,” said Governor Josh Stein. “They power our economy. North Carolina is already the top state for business; now we are the top state for workforce. In 2025, North Carolina had our best year of job announcements ever. We must continue to invest in our people and expand pathways that prepare more people for the career opportunities being built here. With strategic leadership from my Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, North Carolina will not be outworked when it comes to workforce development.”
The ranking by Site Selection was based on several criteria, including educational attainment among workers and labor productivity rates across states. Utah and Illinois followed North Carolina in this year’s rankings, which can be reviewed at https://siteselection.com/2026-workforce-development-rankings-bright-horizons/.
N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley highlighted collaboration among education institutions, local boards, businesses, and NCWorks Career Centers: “North Carolina’s talented people give us our competitive edge, and our workforce system is increasingly aligned with economic development to meet the needs of growing, innovative businesses,” said Lilley. “The Department of Commerce, NCWorks Career Centers, local workforce boards, universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, and industry partners have strong relationships that promote skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow, helping people succeed in every corner of North Carolina.”
Senator Eddie Settle pointed to practical strategies driving results: “This recognition shows what’s possible when we align education, workforce training, and the real needs of employers,” Settle said. “Through the Council’s work, we are focused on practical, results-driven strategies that expand apprenticeships, strengthen work-based learning, and open doors for more North Carolinians to secure good jobs. Workforce development is economic development, and this ranking confirms we’re moving in the right direction.”
Andrea DeSantis from N.C. Commerce emphasized efforts supporting jobseekers: “The N.C. Division of Workforce Solutions, the NCWorks Commission, and our NCWorks partners play key roles in helping North Carolinians overcome any barriers to employment they may have…North Carolina is fortunate to have innovative workforce programs that connect talent to jobs with thousands of partnering employers.”
Dr. Jeffrey Cox noted how community colleges support both education and industry: “North Carolina’s community colleges sit at the intersection of education and industry…we can directly align training with real workforce demand—expanding access to high-quality jobs and creating clear pathways to long-term economic mobility for North Carolinians.”
Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green credited public schools’ contributions: “This workforce development ranking reflects the strength of North Carolina’s educational continuum…our public schools have produced a historic high in graduation rates…and incredible success with Career and Technical Education (CTE) participation.”
University President Peter Hans commented on higher education’s role: “The world-class UNC System is one of North Carolina’s most important strategic assets…We are proud to continue expanding access to higher education…”
In 2025 alone:
– The Governor established his Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships through Executive Order No. 11 within NCWorks Commission.
– An advisory council identified goals related to apprenticeship expansion.
– A task force was created addressing child care accessibility statewide.
– The N.C. Department of Commerce provided federal aid after Hurricane Helene via a Dislocated Worker Grant assisting over 300 residents.
– NCWorks served approximately 84,000 jobseekers statewide through its network during 2024–2025.
– Local boards were required by policy change to allocate minimum funds toward apprenticeships.
– The HIRE Vets Medallion Program recognized an increasing number of veteran-friendly companies each year.
– Programs such as Heroes MAKE America received major donations aimed at training military-affiliated individuals for manufacturing careers.
Machine Specialties Inc., host site for Monday’s event—and active partner in regional apprenticeship consortia GAP (Guilford Apprenticeship Partners) and RockATOP—showcased its own training initiatives.
“At MSI apprenticeships are central…Nearly one-third of our employees are current or former apprentices…” said David Storey CEO at MSI.
Governor Stein has announced new projects totaling over $24 billion since January 2025—a record level—with more than 35,000 new jobs expected across sectors like advanced manufacturing.
Last month also saw $7.2 million awarded via Southeast Crescent Regional Commission grants intended for infrastructure improvements benefiting economically distressed counties throughout the state.
