Gastonia Shell Building

The plastics industry remains one of the strongest components of North Carolina’s diverse manufacturing sector. Hundreds of plastics manufacturing and processing companies employ close to 40,000 people in the state. Additionally, plastics dependent industries — sectors like health care, automotive and aerospace — combine to employ another 725,000 North Carolinians.

The Information Technology industry is easily one of the fastest growing segments of North Carolina’s economy. More than 18,000 technology businesses operate in the state, and collectively employ almost 250,000 people. These companies, which range from single-person start-ups to global giants, are as diverse and innovative as the communities they call home.

From bakeries to fisheries, the food processing industry in North Carolina is a diverse and growing sector that extends across the entire state. In fact, more than 62,000 people are employed by the state’s 1,000+ companies. Our recipe for success in this sector is quite simple; companies enjoy easy access to raw materials and a rapidly expanding consumer base. It’s all tied together by a skilled workforce familiar with operating in a regulated industry.

North Carolina is home to one of the largest and most diverse biotechnology clusters in the United States. From research-driven start-ups to global giants, more than 600 biotech companies call the Tar Heel State home. These firms, which collectively employ 60,000 people, have found North Carolina to be an excellent location for all facets of the industry, from discovery to manufacturing.