North Carolina Employment and Education

Unemployment is down in North Carolina this year. In 2005, the rate was 5.2% and this year it is at 4.8%. The state also created 85,000 new jobs this year. North Carolina is the foremost textile manufacturer in the nation. Tourism also does well here, since the Appalachian mountain chain runs through western North Carolina, and the Great Smoky Mountains in the southwestern part of the state are among the United States’ top natural vacation destinations. This southern state is also a center for American motor sports, with many of NASCAR’s racing teams and related industries located near Charlotte. Agricultural industries include tobacco, sweet potatoes, peanuts, pork, turkey, grapes and wine. The “Tar Heel State” is also the nation’s leading producer of wooden furniture, and you can see wooden rocking chairs on almost every porch. High-tech industries are primarily located in Research Triangle Park, which has become an international center for research, development and cutting-edge technology. Charlotte is the second largest banking center in the U.S. and hosts the headquarters of giants Bank of America and Wachovia. North Carolina is also home to many military instillations, the biggest of them being, Fort Bragg which is the largest base in the country.

North Carolina Education

Graduation rates have gone up in the past fifteen years. In 1990 the graduation rate was only 70% and in 2000 it was at 78.1%. NAEP scores have shown an actual decline in test scores. While averages remain high in math, reading seems to be more of a problem for students in the state. In 2003, 85% of students were proficient in math basics or above skills, while in 2005 the score was down two percent. On reading tests, the scores were much lower, with 66% at basic levels or above in 2003, and 62% in 2005.