2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
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NCSE Mission Statement: Provide strong regional economic development leadership in southeastern North Carolina through innovative marketing and collaborative regional initiatives that will create new jobs, generate capital investment, and secure new business locations.
the SoutheaSt Region
North Carolina’s Southeast Region707 West Broad Street | PO Box 2556Elizabethtown, NC 28337800-787-1333 | 910-862-1482 faxwww.ncse.org
Jane W. Smith | ChairmanKermit D. Williamson | Vice-Chairman Steve Yost | Director | [email protected] Melvin | Marketing Manager | [email protected] Richardson | Marketing Research Developer | [email protected] Marie McKoy | Technology Specialist | [email protected] McPherson | Office Manager | [email protected]
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table of contentS
A DyNAMiC REgiON 4
SETTiNg STANDARDS fOR SuCCESS 5
POPulATiON gROWTh 5
DEfENSE gROWTh 5
REgiONAl DiVERSiTy 6
EDuCATiONAl ATTAiNMENT 6
COMMuTER PATTERNS 6
hOuSiNg 7
COST Of liViNg 7
ACCESS TO hEAlThCARE 8
BuSiNESS COMMuNiTy & iNDuSTRy SEgMENTS 8
fASTEST gROWiNg SECTORS 8
BuSiNESS ClOSuRES AND NEW STARTS 8
ANNOuNCEMENTS 9
uNEMPlOyMENT AND lABOR fORCE 9
POVERTy RATES 9
gROSS DOMESTiC PRODuCT By METROPOliTAN STATiSTiCAl AREA 9
WAgES 10
SECTOR PROfilES 10
iNfRASTRuCTuRE AND TRANSPORTATiON 12
ACCOlADES 13
SuPPORTiNg DATA 14
SuPPoRTiNg DaTa
POPulATiON gROWTh 14
DEfENSE gROWTh 15
REgiONAl DiVERSiTy 15
EDuCATiONAl ATTAiNMENT 15
COMMuTER PATTERNS 2009 16
hOuSiNg 19
BuSiNESS COMMuNiTy & iNDuSTRy SEgMENTS 21
fASTEST gROWiNg SECTORS 22
BuSiNESS ClOSuRES AND NEW STARTS 23
ANNOuNCEMENTS 24
uNEMPlOyMENT AND lABOR fORCE 25
POVERTy RATES 26
gROSS DOMESTiC PRODuCT By METROPOliTAN STATiSTiCAl AREA 27
WAgES 28
SECTOR PROfilES 29
iNfRASTRuCTuRE AND TRANSPORTATiON 41
Why NORTh CAROliNA’S SOuThEAST 43
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2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
a Dynamic RegionSince 1994, North Carolina’s Southeast (NCSE) has worked to advance the economic development interests of the diverse and dynamic 11-county southeast region of North Carolina. NCSE assists Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, hoke, New hanover, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson and Scotland counties in a collaborative marketing effort to connect viable companies with existing assets in the region. Our primary mission is to market the region to interested companies and encourage them to consider the southeast region as a competitive business location, thereby creating new jobs and investment. included within our mission is to develop and support value-added marketing strategies that build upon key regional assets like fort Bragg, the Port of Wilmington, the agricultural base, transportation network, 34 fortune 500 companies, univer-sities and community colleges, and the existing workforce. NCSE also plays a strong leadership role in regional initiatives that directly impact economic development in areas such as workforce development, infrastructure development, and industry cluster growth.
RegioNaliSM iS CRiTiCal To eCoNoMiC gRoWTh Regionalism gives North Carolina the ability to collaborate and pool resources to attract jobs; our model has been replicated by other organizations throughout the country and we stand out as one of the leading states for innovative and progressive economic development. Being familiar with the status of the region not only helps us to market the region better, it gives us an idea of how we are competing in a global economy and indicates the direction in which we should focus our resources and efforts to ensure the southeast region and North Carolina continues to be one of the most competitive regions and states in the u.S. to do business.
TRaCKiNg eCoNoMiC iNDiCaToRS aND TReNDS Most people would agree that a strong economic region requires sustained improvement of such factors as jobs, wages, poverty rates, educational attainment and accessibility to quality housing and healthcare. Moving the needle on these measures—both in absolute and relative terms—is the ultimate objective of economic development programs at all levels. NCSE’s job-growth and business development strategies highlight the region’s unique array of industrial, physical and human assets as they form a backdrop for success-minded companies.
To grasp a clearer picture of where our region is today and what our region needs for tomorrow, NCSE is adding a new dimension to its leadership activities with the compilation of an annual State of the Region report. using data mined from reliable sources, this report tracks a variety of important
economic, demographic, educational and business indicators and trends. The data offer local, regional and state leaders ready access to credible analytical tools for gauging the social and economic health of the Southeast region and its communities1.1 Some data sources may suppress certain information to protect the interest of private enterprise. These suppression issues may lead to minor discrepancies within this report. For example, the Employment Security Commission does not account for self-employed or part-time employees within an industry in their labor force calculations, although they do attempt to capture full-time equivalency.
PoSiTive gRoWTh iN The SouTheaST RegioN in assessing our region we have an abundance of positive economic indicators to illustrate. The region’s population grew 2.8% more than the national average. Our ports have consistently maintained positive growth year-over-year as other east coast ports saw periods of decline. The Depart-ment of Transportation has committed substantial funds to improve and maintain the infrastructure of the region. Our wages maintained positive growth in most sectors in spite of the declines in employment and reduction in manufac-turing. fort Bragg is now home to more generals than any other location in the u.S. except the pentagon. These are but a few of the indicators that demonstrate the region’s excellence in the marketplace and potential for growth.
aDDReSSiNg eCoNoMiC ChalleNgeS Any valuable appraisal of our region cannot avoid the hardships and obstacles we have faced and must overcome to ensure a recovery from recent economic attacks. Along with the aforementioned encouraging trends, this analysis will also look at challenging trends that we all seek to improve or reverse. Since the late 1990s we, as a nation, a state and a region, have been witness to the dot com bubble, the recession that followed the atrocities of 9/11, and the “great Recession” that has hurt the national economy and left scars on the economic landscape. in conjunction with the ailing economy, our region sustained additional blows as global competition lured manufacturing jobs—particularly textiles—offshore.
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Setting StanDaRDS foR SucceSSWhen regional economic development programs succeed, there are a host of benefits derived by communities and their residents. Workers have sustainable jobs that pay livable wages. County tax-bases broaden, enabling local government to fund important public services. flourishing companies provide financial support and volunteerism to schools and charitable organizations. People prosper.
Across a wide range of economic and social measures, there is much that is encouraging about the region. Technology is boosting the competitiveness of manufacturers in the region. One result of this is better-paying jobs for skilled workers, though overall, fewer workers are required to meet production targets than in the past. Some of the region’s industries—military businesses and consumer foods, for example—have largely been cushioned from recessionary winds. Aggressive statewide and regional marketing has bolstered the Southeast’s film industry, a continued North Carolina leader. The region’s tourism industry has suffered only modest setbacks due to the troubled economy, a testimony to the affordability and diversity of visitor attractions in the region.
Clearly, the current economic picture in the region is not consistent across every county. Mission expansion and personnel growth at fort Bragg have lent impressive economic strength to Cumberland County. foreign trade and industrial diversity has buoyed some counties. The region’s coastal communities have been firmed by dramatic population growth. Elsewhere, the near-complete loss of the traditional textile industry, once the largest employer in manufacturing, continues to mark some Southeast counties with persistently high rates of unemployment and poverty. Adverse conditions can be moderated through innovative economic policies implemented and executed in collabora-tion with colleges, universities, business organizations and philanthropic entities.
PoPulation gRowthThe u.S. Census decennial survey confirmed strong population growth in the region between 2000 and 2010. The region is now home to 1,102,381 residents; the region added over 138,000 people to its population over the prior decade, or 12.5%. Population growth in the region slightly underperformed growth statewide, which was 15.6%. Each of the region’s 11 counties experienced positive growth. Brunswick County led the region—and much of the nation—with a population surge of nearly 32% (the second fastest growing county in NC). hoke and Pender counties also showed impressive levels of growth at 28.3% and 21.3%, respectively.
Cumberland County remains the region’s most populous county, with 319,431 residents. Due to troop deployments from fort Bragg and many enlisted soldiers that still consider their home state as their “official” residence that number has the potential to be higher2. New hanover County is the second most populous county in the Southeast, with 202,667 residents. New hanover also experienced rapid increases in residents, growing its population by 20.9% between 2000 and 2010. See data on page 14.
2 Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce is currently working with ESRI to build a model to account for this potential discrepancy.
DefenSe gRowthWith the u.S. Army forces Command (fORSCOM) and the u.S. Army Reserve (uSARC) headquarters’ relocation from fort McPherson, gA to fort Bragg, there has been significant growth in the population of uniformed military personnel, civilian employees of the u.S. Department of Defense, contract workers and family members.
Taken together, fORSCOM and uSARC contributed to the total population supported by fort Bragg within a 40-mile radius of the base, including military retirees, from 246,277 in 2007 to 262,685 in 2010, or 6.7%. Department of Defense projections anticipate the number of active duty military, training military, reserve component military, civilian employees and military family members assigned to the base will peak in 2012 at 166,132 before leveling off at about 164,363 by 2016. Accompanying this growth has been a tremendous surge in the number of defense contracts awarded to companies in the region. See data on page 15.
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2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
commuteR PatteRnSA healthy regional economy requires the flow of workers to and from employment between communities and across county lines. An analysis of commuter patterns can identify where employment is growing and what areas need more attention for new job growth. Cumberland and New hanover Counties have net-positive commuting in-flows by workers who live in other counties. in Cumberland County, 43,813 workers arrive to their jobs from residences elsewhere and 59,903 residents work and live within the county, indicating that there are ample employment opportunities to sustain over 100,000 jobs, while only 36,286 residents commute out of the county for employment (38%). About 40,056 New hanover County workers live outside the county limits adding to the 52,548 people that live and work within that county’s borders. Only 23,561 of those living in the county work elsewhere, or 31%.
With the exception of Robeson county (outflow of 44%), the remaining eight counties have net outflows of workers to employment outside their county of residence exceed-ing 50%. The Wilmington and fayetteville MSAs draw a significant amount of residents into their borders (42% and 43% respectively), which can lead to a disproportionate appearance of inadequate job growth for their neighboring counties. for example, Pender County has a net out-flow of workers that account for 78% of their workforce, most likely in part contributing to New hanover County’s in-flow. See data on pages 16-19.
Regional DiveRSityA diverse region produces opportunities for growth and wealth creation ranging from low skilled to highly skilled occupations. Diverse workforces bring innovative skills that increase productivity and efficiency. Minority populations are more likely to be entrepreneurs than their majority counterparts developing and maintaining businesses and creating jobs3. The 2010 decennial census indicates that the region is more racially and ethnically diverse than the state as a whole. forty-one percent of the population in southeastern North Carolina consists of minority groups. See data on page 15.
3 Syrett, Stephen and leandro Sepulveda. “Realising the Diversity Dividend: Population Diversity and City Competitiveness.” Regional Studies annual international Conference, 24-26 May, 2010, Pécs, hungary.
eDucational attainmenthigher levels of educational attainment indicate that our region can sustain jobs that require the full spectrum of skill-sets within the workforce. unemployment for high school graduates and those that failed to complete high school is considerably higher than for those members of the work-force with at least some college education; this is partly due to the loss of low to mid-skilled occupations that were shed by the recession and/or lost to global competition.
Slightly less than one-quarter of residents of the Southeast who are 25 years old and above hold at least a two-year college degree, making the region the state’s fourth best-educated region behind the urban-centric Research Triangle, Charlotte and the Piedmont Triad regions. Just more than 22% of the region’s over-25 population failed to obtain a high school diploma; only the Research Triangle and Charlotte regions have proportionally smaller adult populations who did not complete high school. Nearly four out of ten New hanover County residents age 25 and older hold a college degree, making it the region’s best-educated county. Cumberland County, with its 28.4% college- completion rate, ranks second regionally and Brunswick County (22.6%) is third. See data on pages 15-16.
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houSingA key contributor to the “great Recession” was a consequence of the housing market. There was steep and aggressive housing growth spurred by the market leading up to the housing crash in 2008. A significant indicator of the health of the housing market is the amount of construction permitted for new single and multi-family housing. When declines in single-family permitting are coupled with declines in multi-unit permitting we see that people are not renting or buying new homes. The housing market crash has contributed significantly to the lag in the economic recovery because many people owe more than their home is now worth, thus restricting their ability to seek employment to a geographic location that is near their current residence or risk foreclosure.
Brunswick County had the highest growth during the first half of this decade with 4,701 housing units permitted in 2005 in which 4,264 were for single-family residences. By 2010 the number of housing units permitted was 1,074, including 904 single-family houses—a 23% decrease in total housing units permitted, which includes a 21% decrease in single-family homes in just five years. Although decline at that rate is alarming, Brunswick County exemplifies the extreme ends of the building boom and bust. Other counties in the region all experienced some increases in building followed by decline but Cumberland County was the least
impacted by the housing market changes. According to the u.S. Census Bureau, the region has seen a 40% decrease in total unit permits, including a 30% decrease in single-family housing permits since 2005.
According to the Office of federal housing Enterprise Oversight housing Price index appreciation rates peaked in 2005 for the Wilmington MSA at 18.7% and in 2004 for the fayetteville MSA at 8.8%. The disparity in these numbers exemplify what was happening throughout the region and the u.S. as home values for high-turnover markets, such as the coastal areas, clearly witnessed the “housing bubble.” More stable markets still grew at a rapid pace like that of the fayetteville MSA but did not suffer nearly as dramatic declines as a consequence of the recession. See data on pages 19-20.
coSt of livingThe region is home to two Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The fayetteville MSA spans Cumberland and hoke counties, and the Wilmington MSA includes Brunswick, New hanover and Pender counties. for 2010, both MSAs have composite cost-of-living indexes that are below the national average, according to the American Chamber of Commerce Research Association (ACCRA), a national organization that compiles pricing data for communities.
area Composite index grocery items housing utilities Transportation healthcare Misc.
United States 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Fayetteville, NC 95.2 105.2 82.3 93.1 96 117.8 100.1
Wilmington, NC 98.7 107.9 89.4 108.7 97.6 99.9 100.2
Asheville, NC 101.1 104.6 97.6 113.4 94.2 104.5 100.6
Burlington, NC 94.5 98.6 85.8 82.5 97.5 102.4 102.5
Charlotte, NC 93.2 97.1 79.3 91.4 95.7 110.1 101.4
Durham, NC 96.5 97.9 86.5 96.5 105.5 108.3 100.5
Greenville, NC 98.5 105.9 84.2 108.7 97.6 113.2 103.3
Jacksonville, NC 96.5 103.2 87.8 99.4 97.8 101.1 99.6
Kill Devil Hills, NC 107.3 111.7 116.5 93.3 110.2 111.6 100.4
Kinston, NC 93.8 102.6 76 109.2 96.7 102.8 99.3
Raleigh, NC 98.1 104.2 88.6 105.8 96.7 100.8 101.8
Winston-Salem 92.4 98.5 82.7 88.7 83.3 99.1 101.5
Source: ACCRA Cost of living index
cost of living index comparison
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2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
acceSS to healthcaReThe regionalization of healthcare in the region can be seen in an analysis of physician-to-population ratios. The presence of regional medical complexes in Cumberland and New hanover County keeps accessibility to primary care physicians at or better than North Carolina’s overall ratio, though their large size leads to higher than average physician-to-population ratios in more rural neighboring counties.
buSineSS community & inDuStRy SegmentSThe region’s economic landscape supports a diversified spectrum of businesses. Service-related firms were by far the majority—nearly half, in 2010. Enterprises engaged in retail trade accounted for 16% of the region’s business com-munity, while those in construction (10%), and real estate (6%) joined public administration operations (4%) to repre-sent a significant number of employers in the region.
According to ESRi data for 2010, 62,452 people were employed in the healthcare industry, the largest number of employees within the service-related industries. The retail industry employed 56,959, education accounted for 36,728, accommodations and food services had 36,024 employees, and rounding out the top five industry employers was manufacturing with 35,219. See data on page 21.
faSteSt gRowing SectoRSThe NC Employment Security Commission identifies twenty sectors that comprise the region’s business makeup. five of the twenty sectors had net gains in employment since 2007: utilities, healthcare and Social Assistance (long-term care facilities, at home care, hospitals, doctors, dentists, etc.); Management of Companies and Enterprises; Public Administration (including national security, legislative and executive offices, etc.); and Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. Significant declines were observed in the construction industry (-26%) and manufacturing (-15%).
Across the five sectors with net positive gains in employment from 2007-2010, 3,705 jobs were added to the region. healthcare and public administration accounted for 3,010 of those jobs since 2007. See data on page 22.
buSineSS cloSuReS anD new StaRtSNew business ventures often lead to innovation and many small businesses grow to employ more people as demand for their services or products grow. however, it is important to recognize that there is a negative correlation between employment numbers and new business starts—as employment declines new business starts increase4. Since 2000, 1,008 businesses announced closures and permanent layoffs in the region, according to the NC Employment Security Commission. in 2010, 2,682 jobs were lost in the region due to closures and permanent layoffs5. As reces-sionary pressure forces closures and suppresses hiring, more individuals pull out of the labor force and start businesses for themselves. Business closures and permanent layoffs were four times higher in 2010 than in 2000. Over the same period new business starts were also four times higher— from 1,028 new starts in our region in 2000 to 4,318 in 2010, according to the NC Office of the Secretary of State. See data on page 23.
4 This should not be misconstrued as a negative economic indicator. Small businesses accounted for 65% of net new job growth from 1990-2007 according to the uS Small Business Administration. 5 Announced closures and permanent layoffs are self-reported by the company.
Ratio of primary care physicians to population
United States-benchmark 631:1
North Carolina 859:1
Bladen County 1706:1
Brunswick County 1578:1
Columbus County 1551:1
Cumberland County 820:1
Hoke County 4365:1
New Hanover County 653:1
Pender County 2440:1
Richmond County 1395:1
Robeson County 1479:1
Sampson County 1547:1
Scotland County 869:1
Source: countyhealthrankings.org
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announcementSBusiness relocation and expansion announcements have continued across a range of targeted clusters such as the agri-industry, energy, and defense sectors. According to the NC Department of Commerce’s Community investment Reports there have been 192 announced business openings in the region since 2005 with a total capital investment of nearly 4.5 billion dollars, creating 13,267 jobs6. investment dollars and jobs added peaked just before the “great Recession” in 2008. Although the job impact and investment dollars were not as impressive as previous years, the economic downturn brought a higher number of announce-ments in the region’s two MSAs as some companies were able to capitalize on the historic low interest rates and cost of commercial real estate in 2009. See data on pages 24-25.
6Community investment Reports account for announced jobs and investment. Some of the announced openings may not have come to fruition as of this publication.
unemPloyment anD laboR foRcein early 2011, the region’s economy showed signs of stabilizing through new job creation. labor force and employment steadily grew in the first half of the decade, with unemployment fluctuating between 5% and 7%. The unemployment rate for the region peaked in January 2010 at 11.8%, as cyclical job losses associated with the “great Recession” idled more than one in ten of the region’s workers. By December 2010, the regional unemployment rate had fallen to 10.2%. The figure was slightly higher than the statewide unemployment rate of 9.7% for December 2010, according to the N.C. Employment Security Commission7. Nationally, the unemployment rate that month was 9.1%. Of the eleven counties in the region, Sampson County had the lowest unemployment rate at 8.4% in December 2010. See data on pages 25-26.
7 Because the NC Employment Security Commission does not seasonally- adjust unemployment rates at the county level, all unemployment rates for the counties, region, state, and nation are unadjusted numbers.
PoveRty RateSPoverty rates throughout the country have risen amid the most recent economic decline. The region has suffered higher rates than the state and nation due in large part to the longer-term decline in manufacturing and the shorter-term decline in construction and other sectors. Rural communities are often at a disadvantage with respect to poverty rates as they are more sensitive to economic shifts. The reduction of the textile industry accounts for 81% of the 31,263 lost jobs in manufacturing in the region from 1990-2009. Along with the textile industry decline, the southeast region also witnessed sharp declines in the building materials sector with the decline of new home starts.
in 2009 (the most recent figure available), 22.6% of the region’s residents had income levels at or below the federal poverty limit ($22,050 for a family of four that year). The rate is higher than the 17.3% figure reported for the region in 2003. Overall, 16.2% of North Carolina residents lived in poverty in 2009. State and regional poverty figures were higher than those of the u.S. That year, 14.3% of Americans lived at or below the poverty line. Brunswick County currently has the region’s lowest poverty rate—14.6% in 2009. See data on pages 26-27.
gRoSS DomeStic PRoDuct by metRoPolitan StatiStical aReaThe u.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis identifies Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in and around fayetteville and Wilmington. gross Domestic Product (gDP) in the fayetteville MSA has grown during the past decade, driven by large amounts of federal government spending primarily supporting fort Bragg and the relocation of fORSCOM and uSARC. gDP for the fayetteville MSA has grown each year for the past decade and reached $16.8 billion in 2009, 56% of which was derived from government spending. gDP growth in the Wilmington MSA saw steady growth from 2001 to 2008 before slowing down slightly in 2009 ending at approximately $13 billion, 87% of which was derived from private industry. See data on pages 27-28.
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2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
wageSWage levels for the region’s workers, when measured across all industry categories, are the fourth highest among the state’s seven economic regions. in the first three quarters of 2010, average weekly earnings in the Southeast were $654.67, a 15% increase from 2005 wage levels and nearly 33% higher than those paid in 2000. New hanover and Cumberland counties led the region in average weekly wage levels with $722 and $709, respectively, as of the third quarter of 2010. Wage levels increased modestly in 2010 for workers in Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Richmond and Scotland counties; those in other Southeast counties saw slight declines in weekly wages. The overall upward trending in wages indicates that our workforce is competitive with other regions throughout the state. See data on page 28.
SectoR PRofileS
MaNuFaCTuRiNg: Manufacturers account for 3% of the region’s total businesses. The NC Employment Security Commission indicates that manufacturers employed 40,220 workers in the region as of first quarter 2010, an 8.3% decline from first quarter 2009 levels. The region’s manufacturers employ 9% of North Carolina’s total manufacturing workforce. By the end of 2009, wages paid to the region’s manufacturing workers had grown 4.4% from 2008 levels.
Since 1990, the manufacturing sector has shed over 31,000 jobs in the region. This decline is due mostly to the offshore relocation of textiles because of global competition. Additional job losses have resulted from the decline in the building materials sector. Manufacturing is showing signs of making a comeback throughout the country, including the southeast region, but it is taking on a different shape, requiring fewer workers due to advances in technology. This sector, more than any other, has seen dramatic changes in the past two decades, requiring a workforce that is far more tech savvy than in the past. These jobs also are requiring higher levels of skill and training. See data on pages 29-30.
TexTileS SeCToR: North Carolina’s Southeast region ranks fifth out of the seven economic development regions in NC for textile man-ufacturing, at 8%. The textile industry alone accounted for the loss of 25,271 manufacturing jobs in the region since 1990, 81% of the 31,263 total lost manufacturing jobs. This sector is showing signs of growth from advanced textiles. Wages for the remaining textile manufacturers in the region declined by approximately $9/week from 2008 wage levels, averaging $389.50/week in 2009. See data on page 31.
BuilDiNg PRoDuCTS SeCToR: The building products sector has seen a 30% decrease in employment in the region since its peak in 1999. Nearly 3,000 workers have been displaced as the housing market severely contracted, eliminating demand for much of this industry’s production. The remaining employment within this sector, however, commands the highest average weekly wage of any of the seven regions in NC, averaging $712/week. As housing begins to slowly rebound from the recent economic climate this sector should begin to gradually add jobs in the region. See data on page 32.
MeTalWoRKiNg SeCToR: The metalworking sector in the region peaked in 1997 with an annual average of 7,265 employees. like all manufacturing, new technology and global competition coupled with the economic decline whittled that down to 3,638 by 2010, according to the NC Employment Security Commission. The metalworking sector has witnessed some of the most significant advancements in technology over the past two decades and North Carolina has become recognized as having a well-trained and highly-skilled metalworking labor force. This has resulted in the region’s metalworking cluster offering average weekly pay of $959, the highest in the state. The demand for skilled metalworkers is rising in the southeastern uS, meaning this sector could again be a job creator in the region. See data on page 33.
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agRi-iNDuSTRY SeCToR8: in 2010 the region grew its agri-industry sector jobs, the only economic development region in the state to do so. The region is home to 19% of the state’s agri-industry employment.
The “great Recession” did less damage to the agri-industry cluster than other sectors. in spite of some decline from 2002-2006, an upward trend has followed for the remaining years, adding 700 jobs from 2006-2009 in our region. The average weekly wage peaked in 2007 at $504/week and has experienced some decline, averaging $477/week in 2009. The decline in wages was not unique to this region; data collected from the NC Employment Security Commission revealed that all seven regions witnessed wage fluctuations to varying degrees during the same 2007-2009 timeframe. See data on pages 34-35.
8 Agri-industry consists of crop and livestock farming as well as food processing.
TRaNSPoRTaTioN aND WaRehouSiNg SeCToR: The region is fourth in the state for employment in this sector behind the urban centers of Charlotte, the Research Triangle and the Piedmont Triad regions. The NC Employment Security Commission data indicate that the transportation and warehousing industry saw a 14.5% decline in employ-ment from its peak in the region in 2003—as of 2009 there were 10,414 people employed in this sector for our region. Wage growth has slowed over the past four years in our region, however, there has been mostly upward trending since 1990 growing 70.5% from 1990-2009 to an average wage of $728 per week. See data on page 36.
DeFeNSe SeCToR: Defense contracts accounted for business activity in every southeast county from 2000 to 2010, with the greatest dollar growth occurring in the years since 2006. According to governmentContractsWon.com businesses in the region received over $2.35 billion in military contracts during the last decade. Companies based in Cumberland County, home to fort Bragg, won 67% of these contracts. Those in neighboring Robeson County captured 14% of the region’s total awards, while defense contractors in New hanover County gathered 6.6%. Some 1,502 contracts were awarded in the region in 2010. See data on page 37.
healThCaRe SeCToR: The region’s healthcare and social services sector employs 15.5% of all workers in the region and comprises more than 8% of employers. Driven in part by the arrival of retirees from outside the region, healthcare providers, including long-term care operators, are top employers in nearly every county. Wages paid to the region’s 61,561-person health-care workforce were $716 per week in 2009—significantly greater than average pay for the region’s workforce across all industry categories. See data on page 38.
FilM PRoDuCTioN: The introduction of a statewide film incentives programs may account for recent year-over-year changes in the region’s film industry. Direct spending in the region by filmmakers declined in the opening years of the last decade before bottoming out in 2004 at $4 million. Expenditures peaked three years later as film crews spent nearly $100 million on productions here. Receipts again declined through 2009 before returning to upward growth. in 2010, the industry accounted for $44 million in direct spending in the region, according to the Wilmington Regional film Commission, which promotes filmmaking across the region. See data on page 39.
TouRiSM: The region’s tourism industry ranks behind those of the state’s urban regions, whose visitor streams are boosted by business and convention travel. The tourism sector grew consistently during the last decade, with year-over-year growth interrupted by recessionary contractions in 2001 and 2009. Direct spending by tourists in the region reached a peak in 2008 at just under $1.6 billion before falling by 6.9% to just under $1.5 billion a year later. Employment remained level throughout the decade as just over 17,000 residents of the region worked in tourism-related jobs. Brunswick, Cumberland, and New hanover counties lead the region in tourism expenditures and state tax receipts with Brunswick County collecting the highest amount of local taxes from tourism. See data on pages 39-40.
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2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
infRaStRuctuRe anD tRanSPoRtation
BRoaDBaND aCCeSS: The latest broadband telecommunications technologies are available to nearly all residents and businesses in the region. Each county in the region is served by at least three wire-line providers and two wireless service providers. Some 99.3% of commercial and residential users in the region have access to internet download speeds of at least 0.768 Mbps9. in Brunswick and New hanover counties, the highest download and upload speeds (>3 Mbps/0.768 Mbps) are available to 100% of the county. high-quality broadband is also widely available in Cumberland (99.9% of residents and businesses), hoke (99.9%), Robeson (99.8%) and Columbus (99.7%). See data on page 41.
9 The metric for broadband connectivity is determined by census block. if only one residence or business in that census block has connectivity, it can be counted as being served by the broadband provider which may result in some of this data being overstated.
iNFRaSTRuCTuRe DeveloPMeNT: The NC Department of Transportation has approved funding for infrastructure improvements and maintenance of nearly $1.2 billion from 2011-2020 in the region. investments by state, county and federal governments have helped modernize the region’s transportation infrastructure over the last twenty years. interstate highways are among the most visible signs of recent improvements. The i-140 extension in greater Wilmington and the i-295 extension in Cumberland and Robeson counties have been top recipients of highway spending in the region in recent years, as have improvements to i-95. Major investments in i-73 and i-74 in Richmond County are set to begin in 2013 and run through 2020, completing a new surface transportation link between the region and major business destinations in the Midwest. See data on page 41.
NoRTh CaRoliNa PoRTS: Physical plant improvements and business development at the Port of Wilmington resulted in nation-leading surges in utilization of the port as a conduit for foreign trade. When compared to competing port complexes in georgia, South Carolina and Virginia, the Port of Wilmington has witnessed consistent year-over-year growth in container shipments as competing ports saw periods of decreased container traffic. in the past decade, container volume moved ahead of both bulk and break-bulk cargo traffic as measured in total tonnage. A record 442 ships called on the facility in 2010 according to the NC State Ports Authority. growth at the Wilmington port mirrors the rise of China as the region’s largest trading partner in terms of both imports and exports. Brazil, Belgium and South Korea also are top suppliers and recipients of commerce through the region. The Port of Wilmington contributes approximately 2.24 billion dollars in direct, indirect, and induced income for North Carolina workers. Thirty-eight percent of all companies NCSE worked with in the past year required port service for their operations. See data on page 42.
RegioNal aiRPoRTS: Commercial airports in fayetteville and Wilmington provide a gateway for corporate and leisure travelers to and from the region. At Wilmington international Airport (ilM), three passenger airlines offer non-stop air service to seven major u.S. business destinations. in 2010, ilM facilitated depar-tures and arrivals for 822,000 passengers. Three passenger airlines connect travelers to three major metropolitan areas via fayetteville Regional Airport (fAy). During the first nine months of 2010, fAy accommodated more than 380,000 passenger departures and arrivals.
13
north cArolinA’s southEAst rEgion
accolaDeSn North Carolina ranked #1 in Site Selection’s annual Business Climate rankings for 2010 and in fact has ranked #1 nine times in the past ten years.
n North Carolina ranked #2 in Best State for Business in 2010 according to Chief Executive Magazine’s annual survey for best and worst states. Three categories were considered: taxation and regulation, quality of workforce and living environment.
n fayetteville ranked as 3rd Best Job Market in the Nation by Manpower, inc.
n fayetteville ranked as 18th Best Performing large City in america and 3rd in NC in Miliken Institute’s Best Performing Cities 2010: Where America’s jobs are Created and Sustained. it ranked 3rd in the nation for 1 year job growth and 6th for 1 year wages and salary increases.
n lumberton was designated as the first NC Certified Retirement Community in 2010 and will serve as the pilot city for the program.
n Wilmington, NC makes the Relocateamerica’s Top 100 Places to live in 2010 which focused this year on communities poised for recovery and future growth.
n Wilmington, NC makes Forbes magazine Best Places for Business and Careers, March 2009.
n Wilmington ranks #14 in Fortune Small Business Magazine’s “Best Places to launch a Business”
n Coastal Living Magazine names Wilmington a “Coastal Dream Town”
n Due to fayetteville’s embrace of nearby fort Bragg, Time Magazine named it “america’s Most Pro-Military Town”
n Bladen Community College, fayetteville Technical Community College, Richmond Community College, Methodist university, St. Andrews Presbyterian College, university of NC Pembroke and university of NC Wilmington (7 of 33 in NC) selected as g.i. Jobs “2011 Military Friendly Schools”
n The Daily Beast ranks fayetteville NC #1 on the “25 Best Cities for College grads” 5/31/2011
n fayetteville NC ranked 6th for Newgeography’s Best cities for job growth 2010
n fayetteville NC awarded the National Civic league’s 2011 all-america City award
14
SuPPoRting Data
Percentage increase in Population 2000-2010
NCSE Region
12.5%
State
15.6%
16%
15%
14%
13%
12%
11%
10%
Percentage change in Population by county 2000-2010
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
8.3%
31.9%
5.8% 5.2%
28.3%
20.9% 21.3%
0.2%
8.1%5.2%
0.4%
Source: uS Census Bureau
PoPulation gRowth
Source: uS Census Bureau
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
350,000
300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
2000 2010
New
Han
ove
r
county Population
Source: uS Census Bureau
15
educational attainment age 25+ by Region
Pie
dm
on
tTr
iad
Par
tner
shp
NC
So
uth
east
NC
No
rth
east
NC
Eas
tern
Reg
ion
Ch
arlo
tte
Reg
ion
al P
artn
ersh
ip
Ad
van
tag
eW
est
Res
earc
hTr
i. R
egio
nal
Par
tner
ship
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
High School GraduateCollege GraduateSome College Less than High School
Source: ESRi data STDBOnline.comSource: u.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000 Census of Population and housing.
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
total Supported Population (fort bragg + Surrounding area)263,000
261,000
259,000
257,000
255,000
253,000
251,000
249,000
247,000
245,000FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10
Projected fort bragg Population growth166,500
166,000
165,500
165,000
164,500
164,000
163,500
163,000FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16
Source: uS Army Stationing and installation Plan (ASiP) COP Data
Afr
ican
Am
eric
an
Am
eric
anIn
dia
n
Asi
an
Pac
ific
Isla
nd
er
So
me
oth
er r
ace
Two
or
mo
re r
aces
His
pan
ic
Wh
ite
70%
50%
30%
10%
-10%
NCSE Region North Carolina
Source: uS Census Bureau
eDucational attainment (2000 census Data)
Source: uS Army Stationing and installation Plan (ASiP) COP Data
DefenSe gRowth
Regional DiveRSity
16
commuteR PatteRnS 2009
B L A D E N
6,488 8,473
4,116
B R U N S W I C K
9,172 18,507
14,638
Employed and Live in County
Commute out of County
Commute into County
SuPPoRting Data
Source: http://lehdmap.did.census.gov/
educational attainment age 25+ by county
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
High School GraduateCollege GraduateSome College Less than High School
Source: ESRi data STDBOnline.comSource: u.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000 Census of Population and housing.
17
C O L U M B U S
6,131 13,325
8,877
C U M B E R L A N D
43,813 36,286
59,903
H O K E4,670 10,027
3,164
N E W H A N O V E R
40,056 23,561
52,548
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
Source: http://lehdmap.did.census.gov/
Employed and Live in County
Commute out of County
Commute into County
commuteR PatteRnS 2009
18
SuPPoRting Data
P E N D E R
4,468 14,578
4,171
R I C H M O N D
5,264 10,162
7,070
R O B E S O N
17,220 19,078
24,022
S A M P S O N
9,411 13,916
9,882
Source: http://lehdmap.did.census.gov/
Employed and Live in County
Commute out of County
Commute into County
commuteR PatteRnS 2009
19
houSing
S C O T L A N D
6,321 8,003
5,158
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
Source: http://lehdmap.did.census.gov/
Employed and Live in County
Commute out of County
Commute into County
commuteR PatteRnS 2009
Single family housing Permits by county
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
2005 201020082003
Source: uS Census Bureau
20
SuPPoRting Data
housing unit Permits by county
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
2005 201020082003
Source: uS Census Bureau
change in housing appreciation rates for fayetteville mSa since 2000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
10%
5%
0%
-5%
change in housing appreciation rates for wilmington mSa since 2000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
20%
10%
0%
-10%
Source: Office of federal housing Enterprise Oversight housing Price index*Please note this graph tracks the difference in the rate of appreciation compared to 2000 causing the appearance of “depreciation” in 2001 because the rate of appreciation was slower than that of 2000.
Source: Office of federal housing Enterprise Oversight housing Price index*Please note this graph tracks the difference in the rate of appreciation compared to 2000 causing the appearance of “depreciation” in 2001 because the rate of appreciation was slower than that of 2000.
21
Percentage of businesses by industry 2010
47% Services
4% Public Admin2% Agriculture 3% Manufacturing
4% Wholesale Trade
16% Retail Trade
2% Logistics
2% Information
4% Finance
6% Real Estate
10% Construction
Source: ESRi forecasts for 2010. Business data provided by infogroup, Omaha NE Copyright 2010, all rights reserved.
buSineSS community & inDuStRy SegmentS
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
number of employees by industry 2010
Unclassified Establishments
Public Administration
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Accommodation and Food Services
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Healthcare and Social Assistance
Educational Services
Administrative and Support and Waste
Management of Companies and Enterprises
Professional, Scientific, and Technical
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
Finance and Insurance
Information
Transportation and Warehousing
Retail Trade
Wholesale Trade
Manufacturing
Construction
Utilities
Mining
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
991
29,561
24,201
36,024
6,868
62,452
36,728
8,382
53
14,448
11,699
9,008
6,818
12,446
56,959
21,075
35,219
21,912
2,855
136
3,980
Source: ESRi forecasts for 2010. Business data provided by infogroup, Omaha NE Copyright 2010, all rights reserved.
22
Percentage change in employment by industry from 2007 through 201015%10%
5%0%-5%
-10%-15%-20%-25%-30%
Ad
min
istr
ativ
e an
d W
aste
Ser
vice
s
Acc
om
mo
dat
ion
an
d F
oo
d S
ervi
ces
Ag
ricu
lture
, Fo
rest
ry, F
ish
ing
& H
un
ting
Art
s, E
nte
rtai
nm
ent,a
nd
Rec
reat
ion
Co
nst
ruct
ion
Ed
uca
tion
al S
ervi
ces
Fin
ance
an
d In
sura
nce
Hea
lth C
are
and
So
cial
Ass
ista
nce
Info
rmat
ion
Man
agem
ent o
f Co
mp
anie
s an
d E
nte
rpri
ses
Man
ufa
ctu
rin
g
Min
ing
Oth
er S
ervi
ces,
Ex.
Pu
blic
Ad
min
Pro
fess
ion
al a
nd
Tec
hn
ical
Ser
vice
s
Pu
blic
Ad
min
istr
atio
n
Rea
l Est
ate
and
Ren
tal a
nd
Lea
sin
g
Ret
ail T
rad
e
Tran
spo
rtat
ion
an
d W
areh
ou
sin
g Util
ities
Wh
ole
sale
Tra
de
SuPPoRting Data
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
number of Jobs added from 2007-2010
0 500
Utilities
Public Administration
Management of Companies & Enterprises
Healthcare and Social Assistance
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500Source: NC Employment Security Commission
faSteSt gRowing SectoRS
23
announced business closures and Permanent layoffs75
65
55
45
35
25
15
5
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
BladenHokeRobeson
BrunswickNew HanoverSampson
ColumbusPenderScotland
CumberlandRichmond
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
175
155
135
115
95
75
55
352000 2005 2008 2010
business closures in ncSe Regionnew business Starts in ncSe Region
5,500
4,500
3,500
2,500
1,500
5002000 2005 2008 2010
Source: NC Office of Secretary of State Source: NC Employment Security Commission
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
number of Reported Jobs lost via closures and Permanent layoffs in 2010
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
25135 111
620
110
906
254
36
369
2393
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
buSineSS cloSuReS anD new StaRtS
24
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEportSuPPoRting Data
announced investment by county
Source: NC Department of Commerce
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
$1,200,000,000$1,100,000,000$1,000,000,000
$900,000,000$800,000,000$700,000,000$600,000,000$500,000,000$400,000,000$300,000,000$200,000,000$100,000,000
$0
2005 2006 20072008 2009 2010
announced investment in ncSe Region
Source: NC Department of Commerce
$2,500,000,000
$2,000,000,000
$1,500,000,000
$1,000,000,000
$500,000,000
$02005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
company announcements by county
Source: NC Department of Commerce
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2005 2006 20072008 2009 2010
announcementS
25
north cArolinA’s southEAst rEgion2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
ncSe Region employment and labor force500,000
400,0002000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Labor Force Employed
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
Source: NC Department of Commerce Community investment Reports
Source: NC Department of Commerce Community investment Reports
announced Jobs in Region
announced Jobs by county
500045004000350030002500200015001000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
3,0002,7502,5002,2502,0001,7501,5001,2501,000
750500250
0
2005 2006 20072008 2009 2010
unemPloyment anD laboR foRce
26
SuPPoRting Data
Regional unemployment Rate11%10%9%8%7%6%5%4%3%
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Region State National
unemployment Rates by county
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
18%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
December 2009 December 2010N
ewH
ano
ver
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
Poverty Rates23%22%21%20%19%18%17%16%15%14%13%12%11%
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
RegionStateNational
Source: uS Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service http://www.ers.usda.gov/
PoveRty RateS
27
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
gDP by mSa: fayetteville, nc$18,000
$16,000
$14,000
$12,000
$10,000
$8,000
$6,000
$4,0002001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Private Industries GDPby Metropolitan Area
Government GDPby Metropolitan Area
Mill
ions
of
Cur
rent
Dol
lars
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, u.S. Department of Commerce
Poverty Rates by county
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
2003 2004 2005 20062007 20092008
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, u.S. Department of Commerce
Poverty Rates by Region
Ch
arlo
tte
Reg
ion
alP
artn
ersh
ip
Pie
dm
on
tTr
iad
Par
tner
ship
Res
earc
hTr
i. R
egio
nal
Par
tner
ship NC
No
rth
east
NC
So
uth
east
NC
Eas
tern
Reg
ion
Ad
van
tag
eW
est
23%
21%
19%
17%
15%
13%
11%
2003 2004 2005 20062007 20092008
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, u.S. Department of Commerce
gRoSS DomeStic PRoDuct by metRoPolitan StatiStical aRea
28
SuPPoRting Data
gDP by mSa: wilmington, nc$18,000
$16,000
$14,000
$12,000
$10,000
$8,000
$6,000
$4,0002001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Private Industries GDPby Metropolitan Area
Government GDPby Metropolitan Area
Mill
ions
of
Cur
rent
Dol
lars
average weekly wage by Region 2000, 2005, and 2010 through Q3
Pie
dm
on
tTr
iad
Par
tner
ship NC
So
uth
east
NC
No
rth
east
NC
Eas
tern
Reg
ion
Ch
arlo
tte
Reg
ion
alP
artn
ersh
ip
Ad
van
tag
eW
est
Res
earc
h T
ri.
Reg
ion
alP
artn
ersh
ip
$900
$800
$700
$600
$500
$400
2005 20102000
average weekly wage by county 2000 – Q3 of 2010
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
$750$700$650$600$550$500$450$400
20012007
20002006
20022008
20032009
2004 20052010
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, u.S. Department of Commerce
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
wageS
29
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
SectoR PRofileS
average manufacturing employment by Region Q1 2010
26% Charlotte Regional Partnership
3% NC’s Northeast
19% Research Triangle Regional Partnership
9% NC’s Southeast
10% NC’s Eastern Region
11% Advantage West
23% Piedmont Triad Partnership
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
average manufacturing employment by Region
Pie
dm
on
tTr
iad
Par
tner
ship NC
So
uth
east
NC
No
rth
east
NC
Eas
tern
Reg
ion
Ch
arlo
tte
Reg
ion
alP
artn
ersh
ip
Ad
van
tag
eW
est
Res
earc
h T
ri.
Reg
ion
alP
artn
ersh
ip
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
manufactuRing
30
SuPPoRting Data
manufacturing average weekly wage by Region
Pie
dm
on
tTr
iad
Par
tner
ship NC
So
uth
east
NC
No
rth
east
NC
Eas
tern
Reg
ion
Ch
arlo
tte
Reg
ion
alP
artn
ersh
ip
Ad
van
tag
eW
est
Res
earc
h T
ri.
Reg
ion
alP
artn
ersh
ip
$1,500
$1,300
$1,100
$900
$700
$500
$300
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
average manufacturing employment for ncSe Region
75,000
70,000
65,000
60,000
55,000
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
31
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
average employment for textiles by Region
Pie
dm
on
tTr
iad
Par
tner
ship NC
So
uth
east
NC
No
rth
east
NC
Eas
tern
Reg
ion
Ch
arlo
tte
Reg
ion
alP
artn
ersh
ip
Ad
van
tag
eW
est
Res
earc
h T
ri.
Reg
ion
alP
artn
ersh
ip
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
average employment for textiles for ncSe Region35,00030,00025,00020,00015,00010,0005,000
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
Pie
dm
on
tTr
iad
Par
tner
ship NC
So
uth
east
NC
No
rth
east
NC
Eas
tern
Reg
ion
Ch
arlo
tte
Reg
ion
alP
artn
ersh
ip
Ad
van
tag
eW
est
Res
earc
h T
ri.
Reg
ion
alP
artn
ersh
ip
$700
$600
$500
$400
$300
$200
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
average weekly wage for textiles by Region
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
textileS SectoR
32
SuPPoRting Data
building Products industry Sector average employment by Region
Pied
mon
tTr
iad
Part
ners
hip
NC
Sou
thea
st
NC
Nor
thea
st
NC
East
ern
Reg
ion
Cha
rlot
teR
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
Adv
anta
geW
est
Res
earc
h Tr
i.R
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
building Products industry Sector average weekly wage by Region
Pied
mon
tTr
iad
Part
ners
hip
NC
Sou
thea
st
NC
Nor
thea
st
NC
East
ern
Reg
ion
Cha
rlot
teR
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
Adv
anta
geW
est
Res
earc
h Tr
i.R
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
$800
$700
$600
$500
$400
$300
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
builDing PRoDuctS SectoR
33
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
average employment for metalworking by Region
Pied
mon
tTr
iad
Part
ners
hip
NC
Sou
thea
st
NC
Nor
thea
st
NC
East
ern
Reg
ion
Cha
rlot
teR
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
Adv
anta
geW
est
Res
earc
h Tr
i.R
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
average weekly wage for metalworking by Region
Pied
mon
tTr
iad
Part
ners
hip
NC
Sou
thea
st
NC
Nor
thea
st
NC
East
ern
Reg
ion
Cha
rlot
teR
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
Adv
anta
geW
est
Res
earc
h Tr
i.R
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
$1,100$1,000
$900$800$700$600$500$400$300
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
average employment for metalworking for ncSe Region
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
metalwoRking SectoR
34
SuPPoRting Data
average agri-industry employment by Region
Pied
mon
tTr
iad
Part
ners
hip
NC
Sou
thea
st
NC
Nor
thea
st
NC
East
ern
Reg
ion
Cha
rlot
teR
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
Adv
anta
geW
est
Res
earc
h Tr
i.R
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
agri-industry average employment by Region
11% Charlotte Regional Partnership
12% NC’s Northeast
14% Research Triangle Regional Partnership
19% NC’s Southeast
30%NC’s Eastern Region
9% Advantage West
5% Piedmont Triad Partnership
change in average agri-industry employment 2009-2010
Pied
mon
t Tri
ad
Part
ners
hip
NC
’s S
outh
east
Part
ners
hip
NC
’s N
orth
east
Part
ners
hip
NC
’s E
aste
rnPa
rtne
rshi
p
Cha
rlot
teR
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
Adv
anta
geW
est
Res
earc
h Tr
i.R
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
100500
-50-100-150-200-250
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
agRi-inDuStRy SectoR
35
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
average weekly wage for agri-industry by Region
Pied
mon
tTr
iad
Part
ners
hip
NC
Sou
thea
st
NC
Nor
thea
st
NC
East
ern
Reg
ion
Cha
rlot
teR
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
Adv
anta
geW
est
Res
earc
h Tr
i.R
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
$700
$600
$500
$400
$300
$200
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
ncSe Region agri-industry average employment
6,5006,0005,5005,0004,5004,0003,5004,000
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
36
SuPPoRting Data
transportation and warehousing average employment for ncSe Region13,000
12,000
11,000
10,000
9,000
8,000
7,000
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
transportation and warehousing average weekly wages by Region
Pied
mon
tTr
iad
Part
ners
hip
NC
Sou
thea
st
NC
Nor
thea
st
NC
East
ern
Reg
ion
Cha
rlot
teR
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
Adv
anta
geW
est
Res
earc
h Tr
i.R
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
$900
$800
$700
$600
$500
$400
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
transportation and warehousing average employment by Region
Pied
mon
tTr
iad
Part
ners
hip
NC
Sou
thea
st
NC
Nor
thea
st
NC
East
ern
Reg
ion
Cha
rlot
teR
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
Adv
anta
geW
est
Res
earc
h Tr
i.R
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
tRanSPoRtation anD waRehouSing SectoR
37
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
Defense Spending by county
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
$350,000,000$300,000,000$250,000,000$200,000,000$150,000,000$100,000,000
$50,000,000$0
20012007
20002006
20022008
20032009
2004 20052010
Source: www.governmentcontractswon.com
Dollar amount of Defense contracts for ncSe Region
$450,000,000$400,000,000$350,000,000$300,000,000$250,000,000$200,000,000$150,000,000$100,000,000$50,000,000
$02000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Source: www.governmentcontractswon.com
DefenSe SectoR
38
SuPPoRting Data
average healthcare employment for ncSe Region70,00060,00050,00040,00030,00020,000
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
average weekly wage for healthcare by Region
Pied
mon
tTr
iad
Part
ners
hip
NC
Sou
thea
st
NC
Nor
thea
st
NC
East
ern
Reg
ion
Cha
rlot
teR
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
Adv
anta
geW
est
Res
earc
h Tr
i.R
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
$900
$800
$700
$600
$500
$400
$300
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
average healthcare employment by Region
Pied
mon
tTr
iad
Part
ners
hip
NC
Sou
thea
st
NC
Nor
thea
st
NC
East
ern
Reg
ion
Cha
rlot
teR
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
Adv
anta
geW
est
Res
earc
h Tr
i.R
egio
nal
Part
ners
hip
140,000120,000100,00080,00060,00040,00020,000
0
20012000 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 200919911990 1992 1993 1994 19961995 1997 1998 1999
Source: NC Employment Security Commission
healthcaRe SectoR
39
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
Direct Spending by film Production$120,000,000
$100,000,000
$80,000,000
$60,000,000
$40,000,000
$20,000,000
$02000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Source: Wilmington Regional film Commission
ncSe tourism employment18500
18000
17500
17000
165002000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Source: NC NC Department of Commerce
tourism expenditures by county
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
$450,000,000$400,000,000$350,000,000$300,000,000$250,000,000$200,000,000$150,000,000$100,000,000
$50,000,000$0
2001 200320022000 20042005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Source: NC Department of Commerce
film PRoDuction
touRiSm
40
SuPPoRting Data
tourism local tax Receipts by county
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
$25,000,000
$20,000,000
$15,000,000
$10,000,000
$5,000,000
$0
2001 200320022000 20042005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Source: NC NC Department of Commerce
tourism State tax Receipts by county
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
New
Han
ove
r
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Bla
den
$20,000,000$18,000,000$16,000,000$14,000,000$12,000,000$10,000,000$8,000,000$6,000,000$4,000,000$2,000,000
$0
2001 200320022000 20042005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Source: NC NC Department of Commerce
41
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
Percent of Population with broadband access per county 2010
Bru
nsw
ick
Co
lum
bu
s
Cu
mb
erla
nd
Ho
ke
Pen
der
Ric
hm
on
d
Ro
bes
on
Sam
pso
n
Sco
tlan
d
Reg
ion
alA
vera
ge
Bla
den
100%99%98%97%96%95%94%
Download > 3 Mbps Upload > 0.768 MbpsDownload > 0.768 Mbps Upload > 0.2 Mbps
New
Han
ove
r
Source: http://www.broadbandmap.gov **The metric for broadband connectivity is determined by census block. if only one residence or business in that census block has connectivity, it can be counted as being served by the broadband provider which may result in some of this data being overstated.
funded Dot interstate Projects in ncSe Region2012 2013 20142011 2015
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
I-95 I-73/I-74 I-40 I-295 I-140
$90,000$80,000$70,000$60,000$50,000$40,000$30,000$20,000$10,000
$0
Source: NC Department of Transportation (dollars in $1000’s) Only projects categorized as highway or rail projects and also classified as infrastructure health, safety, and/or mobility were calculated. includes single county and multi-county projects.
total funded Dot Projects in ncSe Region$180,000$160,000$140,000$120,000$100,000
$80,000$60,000
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020Source: NC Department of Transportation (dollars in $1000’s) Only projects categorized as highway or rail projects and also classified as infrastructure health, safety, and/or mobility were calculated.
bRoaDbanD acceSS
infRaStRuctuRe DeveloPment
infRaStRuctuRe anD tRanSPoRtation
42
Percentage change in Port container traffic
50%40%30%20%10%
0%-10%-20%-30%-40%
Charleston Hampton Roads Savannah Wilmington (NC)
2006 20072004 2005 2008 2009
Source: American Association of Port Authorities. http://www.aapa-ports.org
income contribution of the Port of wilmington (in millions)
$1,500
$1000
$500
$0direct indirect induced
ContainerBulk/Breakbulk
top trade Partners by Percentage at nc Ports
10% Belgium
6% Columbia
36% China
3% Honduras
8% Taiwan
10% Brazil
3% United Kingdom
4% Turkey
6% Great Britain
14% Korea
Source: NC State Ports Authority
Source: findley, Daniel J., et. al.: Economic Contribution of the North Carolina Ports
SuPPoRting Data
noRth caRolina PoRtS
2011 State of the Region: AnnuAl Economic indicAtors rEport
43
Southeastern North Carolina is a growing, dynamic eleven-county region located midpoint on the east coast. Our region possesses a diverse economic base buoyed by advanced manufacturing, tourism, defense, distribution, agri-business, small business, film, and entrepreneurs. The MSAs of Wilmington and fayetteville are vibrant metro areas that anchor the region with their unique mixture of business and quality of place, and all of our communities provide a competitive business climate for different types of industries and businesses that require a quality work-force and superb transportation network.
North Carolina’s Southeast provides confidential technical assistance to companies interested in exploring the southeast region as a business destination. We assist with all aspects of site evaluation, including identifying buildings and sites, incentives and financial assistance, workforce, demographic data, and coordination with state and local officials. We are a state commission formed by the State of North Carolina to provide economic development planning and marketing for the region.
Business highlights of our region include:n international Port at Wilmington
n fort Bragg—largest military installation on the east coast
n internationally recognized cities of fayetteville and Wilmington
n Three public universities and two private universities
n Eight community colleges
n Strong agricultural base—three counties ranked in top ten nationally as best counties in which to farm
n Three interstate highways
n Acclaimed tourism and cultural assets, including beaches, golf, history, and outdoor sports
why noRth caRolina’S SoutheaSt
707 West Broad Street PO Box 2556 Elizabethtown, NC 28337 Phone: (800) 787-1333 or (910) 862-8511 fax: 910-862-1482 www.ncse.org