From the N.C. Economic Outlook report from Wells Fargo:
After suffering larger jobs losses during the recession and enduring a more problematic battle with long-term unemployment, North Carolina’s economic recovery finally got moving during the second half of 2013.
Labor market conditions improved dramatically, with overall job growth outpacing the nation and all major industry groups posting year-over-year employment gains on a three-month moving average basis. ….
More than 40 new manufacturing facilities were announced in North Carolina during 2013 and that momentum has carried over into 2014.
Notable new projects include GE Aviation, which broke ground on a new 170,000-square-foot factory near Asheville that will be the first to produce jet engine components made from advanced ceramic matrix composite materials.
Other major deals include a significant investment by Gildan Activewear, which is investing $250 million to expand two existing yarn spinning facilities in Rowan County and build a new yarn plant in neighboring Davie County. …
While the quickening pace of the recovery is most evident in Charlotte and Raleigh, all of the state’s larger metropolitan areas, as well as many rural areas, saw economic conditions improve in 2013 and the coming year should see even stronger gains.