The April 2026 edition of NC Economy Watch from the Labor & Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) of the NC Department of Commerce highlights significant revisions in employment data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicating a widespread labor market slowdown in North Carolina. Most industry sectors and metropolitan areas in the state have been affected by this trend.

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The revisions reveal that the Asheville area continues to struggle with employment recovery following Hurricane Helene, facing a significant shortfall. North Carolina is now in its fifth consecutive year of a labor market slowdown, with the revised data suggesting that job growth has been consistently slower than previously estimated.

Initial employment estimates had indicated a growth rate of nearly 2% for 2025, but the adjustments show that actual growth remained below 1% throughout the year. The Private Education & Health Services sector was noted as the largest contributor to net job gains, while the Manufacturing sector experienced the most significant job losses. Furthermore, job growth in Professional & Business Services was adjusted downward by more than 80%, resulting in nearly flat growth across the year. Overall, nine out of the eleven major industry sectors in North Carolina reported negative revisions.

Metro areas also saw widespread negative adjustments, with nine out of 15 showing a slower job growth rate than initially reported. The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area, once estimated to have high job growth, revised its rate down to only 1.2% by December 2025, significantly lower than the prior estimate of 2.7%.

In the Asheville metro area, total nonfarm employment fell by almost 9% in October 2024 rather than the previously estimated 3%. Despite some early recovery signs, the revised figures indicate that employment levels remained about 3% below pre-hurricane figures by December 2025.

These annual revisions serve to enhance understanding of labor market trends and promote data literacy. Users seeking timely economic data are cautioned that preliminary figures often lack accuracy. Reliable data sources like the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) are recommended for more accurate employment information, given their lag in reporting.

For further inquiries, contact Meihui Bodane, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Research and Strategy at the NC Department of Commerce.