Target Industries
In 2024, Catawba County partnered with Site Selection Group, one of the nation's leading location advisory and economic incentive firms providing solutions to corporations worldwide, to perform the "Catawba County Industry Growth Analysis." This analysis is a data-driven assessment used to identify the industry sectors that offer the strongest opportunities for long-term growth and competitiveness in Catawba County. By evaluating factors such as job growth trends, wage levels, industry concentration, supply chain strengths, and workforce alignment, the analysis helps determine which sectors are best positioned to succeed in the region.
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This research directly informs the County’s targeted recruitment strategy, ensuring that business attraction efforts focus on industries where Catawba County has clear competitive advantages. It guides marketing efforts, workforce alignment, and strategic investment decisions—allowing recruitment resources to be deployed intentionally and effectively to support sustainable economic growth.
Life Sciences
Catawba County is emerging as a dynamic extension of the Charlotte region's growing life sciences ecosystem. Strategically positioned at the intersection of innovation, skilled manufacturing talent, and major research hubs, Catawba County offers biomanufacturers a powerful location to scale—with operating costs significantly lower than other major Southeastern life sciences markets.
NextGen Textiles
Catawba County is at the forefront of the textiles industry's next evolution, offering a dynamic environment where innovation meets tradition. Anchored by world-class textile R&D centers, advanced product development capabilities, and a deep manufacturing heritage, the Hickory Metro stands out as a premier destination for forward thinking textile companies.
Plastics/Metal Fabrication
Manufacturing has a long and rich history in Catawba County. Even today, roughly 30% of Catawba County’s working population is engaged in manufacturing, more than three times the national average of 9.6%. There are 412 manufacturers in Catawba County employing over 23,000 workers. The Hickory MSA has the highest percentage of employees in the manufacturing sector in NC and SC and ranks 5th in the nation for manufacturing concentration.
Communications Technology
Two of Catawba County's largest employers also happen to be two of the world's largest producers of fiber optic cables. Supporting these industry giants—CommScope and Corning Optical Communications, along with Prysmian—are a number of smaller suppliers that combine to create one of the most impressive clusters of fiber companies in the world.
Food Processing
Catawba County's recruitment of food processing companies is bolstered by an identical focus by the State of North Carolina. There are over 63,000 employees working in food manufacturing in North Carolina and over 3,900 of those are employed within a 45-minute drive time of Catawba County. An abundant water supply for manufacturing operations, combined with a strong network of processing and packaging suppliers and a well-established base of distribution and cold storage facilities, makes Catawba County an excellent location for food processing.