Image courtesy of Asheville Chamber of Commerce
The state of North Carolina gained manufacturing jobs in 2021 according to data collected by MNI, compiler and publisher of industrial business profiles for the nation’s nearly 400,000 manufacturers. Between December 2020 and December 2021, the state added 4,312 jobs or nearly one percent.
Industry Trends in North Carolina
North Carolina is currently home to 9,084 manufacturers employing 578,890 according to MNI data. Food processing remains North Carolina’s top industry measured by number of workers, accounting for 67,040 jobs. Employment in this industry inched up 0.7% over the past year, according to MNI.
Second-ranked Industrial machinery and equipment employs 65,390, and added 0.6% to its workforce over the year, while third-ranked transportation equipment accounts for 44,002, down 1.3% in 2021.
Industries that added significant number of jobs included secondary non-ferrous metals, up 50%; weft knit fabric mills, up 44%; construction sand and gravel, up 33%; and industrial trucks and tractors, up another 31%.
These gains were offset by job losses in laminated plastic plate & sheet, down 161%; speed changers, driver & gears, down 96%; and copper foundries, down 27%.
North Carolina Industrial Cities Gaining Jobs
MNI’s city data reveals Charlotte ranks as North Carolina’s top city by number of manufacturing jobs, home to 47,494 workers. Over the past year, Charlotte added 414 jobs or about 0.8%.
Other top North Carolina manufacturing cities that added jobs included Winston-Salem, which gained 10.9% and accounts for 16,957 workers.
Raleigh added 1.9% to 13,165, while Greensboro added a third of a percent, now home to 26,783 workers.
More Information on North Carolina's Manufacturing Sector
For the latest facts and statistics on North Carolina’s manufacturing sector, see our infographic or learn more about the state’s companies in our post Top 10 Manufacturing Companies in North Carolina.
Looking to contact North Carolina manufacturing companies? Learn more about our North Carolina data for sales, marketing, business development and research here.
