According to Riverbird Research, the number of jobs in the region’s manufacturing industry decreased during the five-year span between 2019 and 2024. 

Though the 2% decrease in the number of jobs in an 18-county region of WNC lagged behind the state’s growth of 1%, the number of industry jobs in the region is 21% higher than the national average. The total of 35,481 jobs were supported by 1,016 payrolled business locations and earned an average annual salary of $73,100 excluding supplements.

The highest concentration of reported jobs occurred in Buncombe County which supported 13,897 manufacturing jobs, followed by Henderson County which supported 5,717 of these jobs.

Technology

According to Riverbird Research, the number of jobs in the region’s technology industry increased during the five-year span between 2019 and 2024. 

Despite the 19% increase in the number of jobs in an 18-county region of WNC, the region’s employment growth was not as fast as the state’s overall rate of 28%. The region still reports 45% fewer jobs in this sector than the national average. The total of 13,587 jobs were supported by 3,936 payrolled business locations and earned an average annual salary of $83,425, excluding supplements.

The highest concentration of reported jobs occurred in Buncombe County, which supported 6,817 technology jobs, followed by Henderson and Macon Counties, which supported 1,532 and 1,088 of these jobs, respectively.