The Leisure and Hospitality Services sector is leading the state in total non-farm industry employment growth in North Carolina, according to recent data from the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division.
Total North Carolina non-farm employment (seasonally adjusted) increased 0.2 percent from March to April and 1.8 percent from April 2012 to April 2013. Since April 2012, Leisure and Hospitality Services has added the largest number of jobs (23,700; 5.7 percent), followed by Professional and Business Services (15,900; 3.0 percent) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (14,600; 2.0 percent).
Over the year, employment rose in 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The Charlotte/Gastonia/Rock Hill MSA had the largest net employment increase with 21,100, followed by Raleigh/Cary with 6,300, and Asheville, 6,200. Asheville had the greatest percentage increase at 3.6 percent. Of the 14 MSAs in the state, four of them saw Leisure and Hospitality Services leading the way with employment growth (Asheville +11.5 percent; Wilmington +9.8 percent; Charlotte/Gastonia/Rock Hill + 7.4 percent; Greensboro/High Point +2.9 percent).