Today is Independence Day. Really.
The Continental Congress voted for independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776.
“John Adams, in his writings, even noted that July 2 would be remembered in the annals of American history and would be marked with fireworks and celebrations. The written Declaration of Independence was dated July 4 but wasn't actually signed until August 2. Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the document, although all were not present on that day in August.”
All NCWorks Career Centers in our region (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania) will be closed for the July 4th holiday.
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As of May,
4,698
more people are working and
2,700
jobs were added in the region in the past year. Total regional employment is
211,189
.
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Mountain Area region continues to have NC's lowest unemployment rate
For May 2018, our region (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania Counties) continues to have the lowest unemployment rate at
in NC at
2.9%
, Buncombe County has the lowest rate of any county in NC at
2.8%
. Henderson County is tied with three other counties in the state for the #3 lowest rate at
3.1%
. Madison County is at
3.4%
and Transylvania County is at
3.4%
. All counties in our region are below the state unemployment rate for May 2018 of 4.3%.
For
40
consecutive months Buncombe County has maintained the lowest unemployment rate of any NC county. For
38
consecutive months the Mountain Area Workforce region (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania Counties) as well as the Asheville metro have maintained the lowest unemployment rate of any NC region.
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Asheville metro unemployment rate 2.9%
The Asheville metro (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison Counties) continues to have the lowest unemployment rate of any NC metro at
2.9%.
In the past year
2,700
jobs were added in the metro.
In the past year since May 2017, the following sectors added jobs: Mining, Logging and Construction (300 jobs), Manufacturing (900 jobs), Trade Transportation & Utilities (800 jobs), Leisure & Hospitality (300 jobs), Government (300 jobs) and Other Services (200 jobs). Information, Financial Activities and Professional & Business Services were unchanged. Education & Health Services had a net loss (-100 jobs).
Manufacturing and Trade Transportation & Utilities are leading our year-over-year job growth and those are two of the higher paying sectors in the region.
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Launch of WNC Trailing Partners LinkedIn Page
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ReCONNECT NC is coming to WESTERN NC!
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The Institute for Emerging Issues at NC State University invites you to
SAVE THE DATE
for the 2018 FALL Emerging Issues Forum,
ReCONNECT NC: ReCONNECT to Community
September 17, 2018!
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There is no conversation more important to have today than civic engagement. People across our state are stepping away from community life, threatening our ability to solve our biggest challenges and maintain our economic competitiveness.
The
Fall 2018 Emerging Issues Forum
, taking place September 17, 2018 in Asheville, will explore this rise of disengagement and identify strategies to re-energize our citizens. The forum kicks off IEI's three-year
ReCONNECT NC
initiative.
As such, we are thrilled to announce IEI’s next Emerging Issues Forum
Please mark your calendars for the following important dates!
July 16, 2018
Forum Registration Opens!
NOW accepting "Call for Communities" applications!
Deadline: July 22, 2018
We're looking for five communities to showcase at the forum!
At IEI, we believe that local communities are the unit of change to spark this renewed trend of reconnection. For the Asheville forum, we will identify and collaborate with five communities, and we are NOW accepting applications from NC communities that are actively working on successful or promising initiatives to increase civic engagement to address critical community challenges.
Examples include but are not limited to:
- Using technology in new ways to increase community participation.
- Designing communities and spaces that facilitate citizen engagement.
- Creating innovative branding and marketing campaigns to encourage community or citizen involvement.
- Creating opportunities for civil dialogue across community divides.
- Exploring changes in organizational culture, policies and/or procedures to make participation easier or more accessible.
- Launching civic education and training initiatives.
Join us September 17, 2018 at the Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville!
Remember, forum registration opens July 16, 2018!
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NC Job Growth 2007 - 2017
From the NC Department of Commerce, Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD), job growth in the state from 2007 - 2017 has been concentrated largely in the urban regions on the state, specifically in Wake and Mecklenburg Counties. The following charts compare peak employment in 2007 (prior to the Great Recession) with 2017.
Our region (Ashevile MSA) and has over 15,000 more jobs in 2017 than we did in 2007 (175,500 jobs versus 190,700 jobs). Only 34 counties gained employment (jobs) between 2007 - 2017, 66 counties had fewer jobs.
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Employment growth in the Asheville MSA
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NCWorks
For the current program year (PY17), our four-county Local Area has provided the following services through our region's NCWorks system:
Job Seeker Services:
Total individuals registered:
2,659
Total distinct individuals receiving services:
13,563
Total services provided to individuals:
109,287
Employer Services:
Total services provided to employers:
11,578
Total number of internal job orders:
4,577
Total number of internal job referrals:
5,743
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Employers: Apply now for a Business Accelerator grant
Mountain Area Workforce Development Board is now taking applications for "Business Accelerator" grants.
Business Accelerator grants can help local employers upskill their existing workforce to make their business more competitive in the marketplace.
These Incumbent Worker Training grants will be available to employers with at least five employees. The maximum grant allowed will be $10,000 for a single employer or $12,500 for a collaboration among multiple employers. We anticipate that the Board will receive more requests than funding available.
Please contact Barbara Darby, Regional Business Services Coordinator at [email protected] to learn more about how a Business Accelerator grant can assist your organization.
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Mountain Area Workforce Development Board meeting recap
Mountain Area Workforce Development Board met at UNC Asheville for the June board meeting. The board honored Kim Cox, Performance & Accountability Specialist with the Board for her dedicated service. We wish Kim all the best in her retirement. The board also recognized Blue Ridge Community College Vice President Julie Thompson who is retiring after over 38 years with the college. Julie has been a workforce champion for our region and state. Julie was honored earlier that day when Governor Cooper presented her with the "Order of the Long Leaf Pine."
The board heard presentations from UNC Asheville about their joint degree mechatronics engineering program with NC State University, Health and Wellness, Computer Science, New Media and the Career Center. April Brown with Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce provided an update about the 10 county “State of the Workforce” skills analysis #WNCTalent, and Jamie with Working Wheels shared with the board how they are helping to meet workforce transportation needs. We want to thank UNC Asheville for hosting this meeting.
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Chairman Terry Collins presents a plaque to Kim Cox for her service as the Board Performance & Accountability Specialist.
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Chairman Terry Collins presents a plaque to Julie Thompson for her many workforce development contributions to our region.
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Julie Thompson reciting the NC Toast at the board meeting.
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NCWorks Career Center Asheville upcoming events
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June 29
th
–
Free Workshop: Myers-Briggs Type Inventory
10:00 am to 12:00 pm- NCWorks Career Center Asheville
July 11
th
–
Free Workshop: Identifying Career Interest
10:00 am to 12:00 pm- NCWorks Career Center Asheville
July 11
th
–
Free Workshop: WIOA Financial Assistance
10:00 am to 12:00 pm- NCWorks Career Center Asheville
HOT JOBS- CURRENTLY HIRING
ConMet
(through Adecco) – located in Canton
Multiple Assembly positions available: Pay is $13.50 to $14.60
Eaton Corporation
– located in Arden
Multiple positions available: Pay starting $14.50
O’Reilly’s
– Haywood Rd location in Asheville
Both part-time and full-time delivery drivers and sales associates Delivery jobs don’t require a lot of heavy lifting with flexible hours
Brasfield & Gorrie-
in Asheville
Full-time Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
Heavy lifting required; $10 to $16 an hour
UHAUL
– Sweeten Creek location in Asheville
U-Box Customer Care Representatives (Delivery)
Arcadia
– in Arden
2
nd
Shift Facilities Maintenance Technician
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Healthcare has now been added to Mountain Area Careers (MAC) which highlights our region's career pathways in the Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare and Hospitality & Tourism sectors
Our region has three "NCWorks Certified Career Pathways" in Advanced Manufacturing, Hospitality & Tourism and Healthcare which have been approved by the NCWorks Commission.
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Crystal at Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard
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Josh at Advanced Superabrasives (ASI) in Madison County
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Robert at Biltmore Farms Hotels in Buncombe County
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Lezlie with the Hot Springs Health Program at the Mars Hill Medical Center in Madison County
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Erica at Pardee UNC Healthcare in Henderson County
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Chris at Mission Health in Buncombe County
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Leigh at GE Aviation in Buncombe County
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Women in Advanced Manufacturing
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Heather with Home Instead Senior Care
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Manufacturing sector continues employment growth trend
"Asheville's economy is increasingly tied to manufacturing."
Manufacturing is big business in our region, over 21,000 workers, average wages over $52,000 annually, and over $1 billion in manufacturing investment since 2009.
"But on the other side of the Great Recession, Asheville's economy has become increasingly tied to the manufacturing industry. At about 21,300 workers, the industry employs more people in Asheville's metropolitan area than it has at any point in the past decade, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows. Those jobs pay an average annual wage of about $52,000, roughly 24 percent higher than the average wage of workers in the same region and above the median wage for workers on a 40-hour workweek in the U.S." Asheville Citizen Times, June 25, 2018.
https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2018/06/25/ashevilles-economy-increasingly-tied-manufacturing-but-good-thing/699241002/
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Frankie Frasure: NCWorks NextGen Youth Success Story
One day a friend said Frankie could stay with
him
"I met Frankie a couple of years ago. He was often in trouble and angry. However, something inside was so apparent it quickly grabbed my attention. Frankie had so much drive. It was obvious he needed direction. However, trust was not an easy task with him. His family experienced alcoholism and incarceration. Frankie was living with a relative that really did not want him there. He was very aware of this. Although he stayed in different places from time to time, he knew he always had to go back to where he was not really wanted.
As I tried to develop trust with Frankie and I began to teach work experience, transportation was an issue. Frankie appeared very athletic but this was not something he had pursued during high school. I talked to a coach who was willing to let him learn and work as a coach’s assistant and help set up and take down track meets. Frankie started running. The coach was also eager to put him on the team. Frankie developed new friendships and relationships with people he would have never known. The coach noted his lack of training but was insightful to his quickness. Therefore, he instructed him “Go out there and run. Beat them all!” And that Frankie did. He placed high in the region and well in the state meets.
As all of this is happening, I had another participant who assisted Frankie with transportation since we needed to find Frankie a new job, as he became part of the team. Ingle’s markets took him on and Frankie excelled there as well. But all too quickly, it was graduation time. This was of course our goal. Upon graduation, Frankie had nowhere to live. He had to go and live with his dad. Although I encouraged Frankie to enroll in school since he had already overcome so many obstacles. His dad had him work at the same place he was employed. Frankie knew he wanted more out of life. Every time Frankie brought up school, he was quickly beaten down and told he was not smart enough. We continued to communicate.
One day a friend said Frankie could stay with him. This was the open door to move on with life. Frankie called me and we proceeded to get him enrolled in college. Once again, Frankie has excelled. Currently, he is enrolled at AB Tech and working at the Vitamin Shop. Frankie continues to work hard and is doing wonderful in school. He will graduate with an associate’s degree in Health and Fitness Science. His English teacher in college has also noted his strong ability to express himself beautifully by writing poems. She is pushing him toward writing more for publications. I have read quotes from him often with things like “Keep your head up, the pain won’t last.” “Your life is what you make of it; don’t let others bring you down.” During his free time Frankie boxes and works out to relieve his inside stresses. He has learned to overcome everything in his way. He has the desire to talk to other youth to guide them to overcome life’s challenges. Frankie is an amazing story of how WIOA opens doors for youth that would never have had the option."
Submitted by: Jeanine Phillips, NCWorks NextGen Youth Career Coach, Buncombe County Schools
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