Workforce & Training
We realize that as unemployment rates drop across the country, finding and retaining qualified workers becomes more difficult. Like everywhere else, this is a challenge faced by existing companies and companies who may be considering a new or expanded location in Catawba County. Aside from the statistics, the most common questions we are asked pertaining to workforce are:
- Where will our workforce come from?
- How will we recruit our workforce?
- Who can we turn to for support?
Catawba County has a wealth of excellent organizations that support workforce recruitment and training and we have created a guide to help companies better understand the assistance that is offered throughout Catawba County. Continue scrolling to see how Catawba County is meeting the challenge, or download the Catawba County Workforce Brochure.
K-64
Catawba County is connecting business and education through the innovative K-64. K-64 increases student and employer engagement in educational programs proven to prepare a qualified workforce by:
- Collaborating with employers to align courses of study with workforce needs.
- Connecting students to real-world careers and related curriculum choices from early on.
- Empowering adults to enhance employability in a dynamic work environment.
Workforce Statistics
Bolstered by a strong work ethic, Catawba County's workforce has proven to be adaptable to the requirements of our most demanding companies. The labor force remains non-union—in fact North Carolina’s unionization rate is the lowest in the nation—and consists of dedicated employees with direct connections to the region’s proud history of manufacturing.
Highlights of the Catawba County Laborshed include:
- Labor force of almost 400,000 people within 45-minute drive time
- Roughly 40,000 underemployed workers
- A willingness to commute more than 20 miles to work
- Nearly 12,000 net migration of workers into Catawba County each day
Unemployment Rates
| Current Unadjusted Unemployment Rates - March, 2021 (released 4/28/21) |
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| Catawba County | Hky-Len-Morg MSA | North Carolina | |
| Labor Force | 78,164 | 172,223 | 4,992,356 |
| Employed | 74,644 | 164,526 | 4,762,691 |
| Unemployed | 3,520 | 7,697 | 229,656 |
| Rate | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.6% |
Source: NC Division of Employment Security
Catawba County, North Carolina
Charlotte's Great Northwest
A manufacturer's guide to hiring & training resources in Catawba County, NC
Where will the company's workforce come from?
| Management/Engineers | ||
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Accounting
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Communication |
Engineering Technology |
| Mid-skill Positions | ||
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Engineering |
34 apprentices enrolled, Mechanical Maintenance |
Welding Technology |
| Machine Operator/Production Positions | ||
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Production Workers: 342 |
Focus on intensive skills development, take those with little to no skills and give them skills for employment in manufacturing operator training More individuals trained in pure manufacturing than any other community college in NC Customized Industry Training Program |
The Manufacturing Academy is an industry-driven, 10-week certification course developed by 25 partner companies from Catawba County, provided by CVCC, designed to prepare students for manufacturing positions currently in high demand by employers by introducing students to the basic concepts of manufacturing and careers with local companies. |
How will the company recruit its workforce?
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Short Term: 0-3 Months |
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Provides assistance in developing job descriptions Provides assistance posting job openings on state site, www.ncworks.gov (this system also spiders other job boards to present a full portfolio of open jobs) www.ncworks.gov offers Virtual Recruitment options, as well as state and local labor market intelligence Provides resume and application assistance to ensure quality pre-employment screenings Conducts recruiting events:
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The Manufacturing Academy is an industry-driven, 10-week certification course developed by 25 partner companies from Catawba County, provided by CVCC designed to prepare students for manufacturing positions currently in high demand by employers by introducing students to the basic concepts of manufacturing and careers with local companies. Program Modules include:
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Offers in-depth customizable pre-employment screening assessment & training including:
Company may access students for recruitment in on-going classes:
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Provides customized training directed by the company including:
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Medium Term: 6-12 months |
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HKY4Vets is a public-private partnership formed with the vision to partner with Catawba County businesses to meet their talent requirements by leveraging the veteran and military spouse community. In 2019, HKY4Vets is undertaking significant efforts to increase awareness of the Catawba County community among transitioning military families from the Southeast, with particular emphasis given to promoting HKY4Vets Talent Connect, an online job board connecting military talent to local companies and their diverse career opportunities. Through direct relationships with NC & SC military installations, a significant, year-long social media push and other marketing efforts, HKY4Vets intends to funnel significantly more veteran talent to participating Catawba County companies than ever before. |
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| Long Term: 1-4 years | ||
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1 to 4 year program combining formal education at CVCC and on-the-job training with sponsor employers Apprenticeship in skilled trades like:
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High school students are dual enrolled at CVCC in advanced manufacturing courses. If a student is employed by a company prior to graduation, the cost for remaining courses may be funded by NC. Catawba County Schools: Hickory Public Schools: Newton-Conover Schools: |
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K-64 is a unique community-wide partnership between public K-12 schools, colleges, workforce development and business to provide a skilled workforce pipeline for our businesses by aligning courses of study and training with workforce needs. K-64 will identify, facilitate and streamline programs and initiatives that are in-place and have been proven to be best practices in improving education as it relates workforce development. If a specific educational or employer training need is not being met, K-64 will develop new programs and partnerships to insure a future-ready workforce. |
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| Catawba County's Commitment to Manufacturing | ||
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http://www.cvcc.edu/ |
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One-Stop Workforce System supporting employment recruitment & retention at no cost
Who can we turn to for support?
| Manufacturing Solutions Center | NC Center for Engineering Technologies | |
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Bringing manufacturing into the NEW ERA of changing technologies, global marketing and production innovations, the mission of the Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC) is to help US manufacturers increase sales, improve quality & efficiency, & create or retain jobs. This is accomplished by:
Services include, testing services, training, product development, marketing, engineering, inventors & entrepreneurs |
The North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies provides facilities for applied research in engineering related fields and serves as a conduit to baccalaureate education delivered by the University of North Carolina system schools. Conceived as a community-supported higher education effort in technical and engineering disciplines, this Center was established through a collaboration of business, government and higher education. Labs include:
Degree programs include:
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| Catawba County EDC | ||
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The Catawba County EDC serves as a clearinghouse for business information to existing industries and can usually provide information or assistance to help you minimize time spent in solving any business problem you may encounter. For assistance, please contact Nathan Huret, Director of Existing Industries at 828-267-1564 or nhuret@catawbacountync.gov. |
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| Human Resource Associations | ||
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