North Carolina Fast Facts:
Location, Location, Location…: North Carolina is located on the Atlantic seaboard in southeastern United States.
Cities: The capital is Raleigh, while other large cities include Charlotte and Greensboro.
Behind the Name: North Carolina was one of the original Thirteen Colonies, first known simply Carolina. It is nicknamed the “Tarheel State” because tar was historically one of the state’s major products.
A Closer Look: The state boasts mild winters and comfortable summers, widely considered an ideal place to both live and visit.
Did You Know? Fly like an eagle: Kitty Hawk, North Carolina was the location of the first successful controlled, powered and sustained airplane flight by the Wright brothers in 1903. (1)
North Carolina Careers and Employment:
Population: 9,222,414 (14.6% increase since 2000) - 51.1% Female, 48.9% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 4th in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) manufacturing; (2) retail trade; (3) health care and social assistance; (4) accommodation and food services; and (5) construction.
Taxes: Income Tax, 6.0% to 7.75% and Sales Tax, 4.25% (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 96.7 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 31st of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 39.97; Apr: 58.26; July: 77.49; Oct: 59.47 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12: Ranked 27th of 50 states in "Academic Achievement" by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
North Carolina Economics:
In General: North Carolina’s economy is notably diverse, including both an established agricultural sector and areas of significant industrial and high tech growth. Most of the state’s workforce is employed in the service industry, but many careers are available through manufacturing (17%), wholesale and retail trade (20%) and military and government services (14%).
Service Industry: Concentrated in the metropolitan areas, the finance, insurance and real estate sector makes up North Carolina’s leading service industry group.
Agriculture: North Carolina ranks among the nation’s leaders in the production of hogs, broilers and turkeys. The state’s leading field crops are tobacco and cotton, while greenhouse and nursery products are also important agricultural commodities.
Mining: Crushed stone such as granite represents North Carolina’s most valuable mined product, followed by traprock and limestone.
Fishing: Aquaculture is a prominent career in North Carolina, which produces farmed varieties of catfish, crayfish, Atlantic menhaden and trout.
A Closer Look: You can bank on it, many large banking companies have moved into Charlotte, making the city one of the nation’s important financial centers.
Did You Know? North Carolina produces more tobacco products (cigarettes, pipe and chewing tobacco) than any other state in the nation.
North Carolina Education:
Find Colleges and Universities in North Carolina, here.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.
