Old North News

The Labor and Economic Analysis Division has issued the 2032 Regional Employment Projections for North Carolina, covering nearly 140 industries and 840 occupations. These projections assess future workforce demand, offering valuable data for educational and workforce planning in the state.

The projections predict job growth across all 16 regions by 2032, with significant growth expected in Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, and Wilmington. In contrast, the Rocky Mount-Wilson area shows the smallest growth forecast, at a mere 1.5% increase in jobs from 2022 to 2032.

Charlotte is central to the new job market, potentially making up nearly one-third of new positions statewide. Traditionally a financial hub, the city is expected to see growth in Production and Construction & Extraction occupations.

In Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Hickory, and Wilmington, more than half of new roles may offer a median annual wage of $45,000 or higher, whereas other regions could see new jobs below this wage level. Production occupations are set for modest increases in many regions, while Office and Administrative Support roles will vary, with six regions forecasting gains and ten anticipating declines.

Certain occupational groups—including Healthcare Support, Food Preparation and Serving Related, and Personal Care and Service—are expected to grow fastest. Within the 2022-2032 timeframe, Food Preparation and Serving Related roles are projected to lead in net new jobs and annual openings, constituting 9% to 39% of new roles, depending on the region.

Jobs necessitating post-secondary education are tipped to expand faster than those requiring less academic certification. Nonetheless, over half of new positions statewide will not demand formal education beyond a high school diploma.

Total employment is predicted to rise in all regions, with the most substantial growth in Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham. These areas may see increases of 11.8% and 12.2% respectively, translating to 153,000 and 146,000 new jobs.

Office and Administrative Support, Sales and Related, Food Preparation and Serving Related, and Transportation and Material Moving are the largest job groups and are projected to stay dominant through 2032. Sales positions are poised for moderate growth, particularly in Wilmington, Charlotte, and Raleigh-Durham, while Rocky Mount-Wilson may experience a dip.

Food Preparation and Serving occupations are anticipated to grow across all regions, driven by demographics and restaurant development, accounting for 7.2% to 15.2% of net new jobs in areas like Rocky Mount-Wilson and Pinehurst-Rockingham. Transportation roles will also expand, with Wilmington enjoying the largest projected increase at 13%.

Regional differences show varying educational demands for new roles. Raleigh-Durham will likely see 37% of its new positions require a bachelor's degree. Boone-Wilkesboro and Greenville expect significant demand for advanced degrees.

By 2032, roles requiring some post-secondary education should grow in all but two regions. Raleigh-Durham is expected to continue leading in jobs needing more education than high school.

Regarding compensation, most regions beyond Charlotte, Hickory, Raleigh-Durham, and Wilmington predict over half of new roles will earn below the median annual wage of $45,000. Jobs offering annual median wages above $90,000 are expected in Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte to account for a significant portion of new positions.

Employment projections inform strategic planning for education and workforce development, enabling integration of programs aligned with future labor needs. For further exploration, visit the projections data table or Occupational Projections dashboard.