John Hardin, Executive Director of the Office of Science, Technology & Innovation | North Carolina Department of Commerce
John Hardin, Executive Director of the Office of Science, Technology & Innovation | North Carolina Department of Commerce
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 North Carolina's evolving population and economic landscape. However, these updates have not yet been incorporated into Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. The new definitions will be used for Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), Current Employment Statistics (CES), and Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) starting with data released on March 17, 2025. "Historical data published by LEAD on D4.nccommerce.com will be revised to reflect the new MSAs for the LAUS, CES, and QCEW programs," according to a statement. Due to collection methods, historical Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data will remain unchanged.
The changes include one newly created MSA in Moore County, named 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; Brunswick County has shifted from Myrtle Beach MSA to Wilmington MSA.
Conversely, Haywood County was removed from Asheville MSA, while New Bern MSA—which included Craven, Jones, and Pamlico counties—has transitioned to a Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The updated list of MSAs includes various counties under different regional designations such as Asheville MSA with Buncombe, Henderson, Madison counties; Burlington MSA with Alamance county; Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia MSA encompassing Anson among others; Durham-Chapel Hill including Chatham; Fayetteville with Cumberland; Greensboro-High Point covering Guilford; Greenville featuring Pitt county; Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton including Alexander county; Jacksonville consisting Onslow county; Pinehurst-Southern Pines containing Moore county; Raleigh-Cary involving Franklin county; Rocky Mount comprising Edgecombe county; Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk integrating Camden county alongside others like Currituck and Gates counties within Wilmington’s jurisdiction incorporating Brunswick plus New Hanover along Pender counties within Winston-Salem’s sphere containing Davidson down through Yadkin.
MSA designations are crucial for analyzing statistical data that aids in comparing trends across urban centers and surrounding communities. This information can guide policy formulation aimed at stimulating regional economic growth.
According to OMB guidelines: "A metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographic region centered around an urban area with a population of at least 50,000 people." Additionally: "A micropolitan statistical area (μSA) is a smaller region centered around an urban area with a population between 10,000 and 50,000 people."
OMB typically revises these definitions every decade following census results but may also implement modest revisions during interim periods.
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