Jobs by the numbers: Data shows employment numbers are getting better. Experts say more opportunities are in the pipeline.

By Scott Nunn, posted Feb 21, 2022 on BizFayetteville.com

Graphic by the NC Department of Commerce

With the pandemic still gripping the state, the jobless rate in the Fayetteville metropolitan statistical area hit 8.2 percent in December 2020, the highest among North Carolina’s 15 metro areas and above the statewide unemployment rate of 6 percent.

The 4.8 percent rate in December was 14th highest among metros, with Rocky Point at 5 percent. The state average in December was 3.2 percent. Month-over-month, the MSA’s December number was an improvement over November’s 5.1 percent.

Officials with the N.C. Department of Commerce, which tracks employment, noted that because of seasonal changes it is advisable to focus on year-over-year changes.

Among the state’s metro areas, Durham/Chapel Hill had the lowest jobless rate in December at 2.5 percent, followed by Asheville at 2.6 percent, Raleigh at 2.6 percent and Wilmington at 2.7 percent.

Although there are soft spots in the Fayetteville employment market, the area has many new jobs in the pipeline, with businesses such as the recently announced Amazon facility.

In addition to the reliability of military-related jobs, the Fayetteville area is increasingly attracting companies in the traded-business sector, which provide goods and services outside the region in which they are located. An economy relying more than ever on transportation services, Fayetteville’s location on Interstate 95 between Florida and New York makes good sense for the logistics industry, which keeps supply lines flowing.

Shari Fiveash, president and CEO of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce believes that a big name and industry leader such as Amazon will further elevate the region’s reputation for supply line based services.

‘Having been in other communities, when one large firm like Amazon sets up, often so do others,” Fiveash told the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. “They did their homework and others will take notice.”

Having a good pool of qualified, reliable employees – often connected in some way with the military community – also is a draw for the area, especially at a time when many employers find it difficult to fill positions.

Fiveash believes government, economic development and education institutions have to focus not just on workforce development but on ensuring workers have the skills and qualifications employers are looking for.

Fortunately, said Fiveash, the area has obtained significant grants and other funding for that work without having to pass the cost on to taxpayers.

“We are … looking forward, understanding what our needs are as a community, and best using grants to get there versus. passing it on to the citizens,” Fiveash said.

She pointed to Toyota, which is investing $1.3 billion for a lithium battery plant near Greensboro

“Toyota works with its ecosystem and has so many partners located near their facilities,” Fiveash said. “With our military influence, we have trained, hard-working employees who are perfect for many technical jobs.”

And those trained workers also start their own business with the skills they may have learned in the military. That is why business incubators are so important, Fiveash said. “Many former military (members) open businesses, but need the resources and knowledge an incubator can offer.”

Robert Van Geons, CEO and president of FCEDC, expects 2022 to offer new opportunities in the workforce. “Assuming the national and global economy remains strong, we anticipate hundreds of new jobs here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County,” he said. “Importantly, these opportunities will be in a variety of industries including e-commerce, technology, financial services and health care. These companies will be looking for employees with an array of experience, from entry level workers to highly skilled technicians.”

In all non-farm sectors, the Fayetteville MSA had a net gain of 2,100 jobs in December compared to the previous month. Government added 900 jobs in December, edging out the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector, which added 800 jobs.

The hard-hit Leisure and Hospitality sector is steadily coming back, with employment growing by 1.8 percent in December and 15 percent since December 2020.

At the county level, Cumberland had the same unemployment rate in December as the FMSA – 4.8 percent. Elsewhere, the jobless rate was 4.5 percent in Hoke County, 2.8 percent in Moore, 3.6 in Harnett and 3 percent in Sampson.

Statewide, commerce department officials said the monthly unemployment rate improved in 91 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. Also, all of the state’s metro areas saw their jobless rates drop for the year.

And, Van Geons points out, more and more companies want to come to the region. “Now, more than ever,” he said, “workforce availability and talent are driving location decisions. Our community, significantly and positively impacted by Fort Bragg, offers a young, diverse, and dependable workforce that employers can draw from. We are receiving new inquiries from companies almost every day and are incredibly optimistic about 2022.”

Teddy Warner, a business services representative with the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments, believes the biggest current challenge is matching workers with employers. He said the pandemic shined a light on the marriage of technology and work, but there's still a chasm.

“COVID showed the opportunities with technology but we still need to improve it, especially as it relates to connecting job seekers to businesses and everything that comes with it,” Warner told the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal.

He said that pre-COVID the program he works with had 500 people per week coming into the career center looking for jobs and training opportunities. There also were face-to-face job fairs.

“We're trying our best to get back to where we can have larger events and things like that, but, you know, there's still a challenge and the technology programs just aren't there yet, in my opinion, to connect people the way that they should,” Warner said.

Even when he has workers posting jobs, the potential employer may not know how to navigate the process.

“A lot of businesses are going to expect an online application, a resume,” Warner said. “What if you don't have access to the internet? What if you don't have an updated resume or even understand the need for a resume.

“Things used to be more in-person, face to face,” he said. “We're trying to adapt.”

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