Asheville, NC – January 2024 Jobs Report – Steady Growth Amidst National Fluctuations

Asheville’s job market held steady in January 2024, defying national trends that showed signs of a potential slowdown. While many cities across the US experienced job losses, Asheville saw continued job growth, albeit at a slower pace than the previous months.

Highlights:

• Overall job growth of 1.2% compared to December 2023.
• Unemployment rate remained low at 3.8%, slightly higher than December’s 3.5%.
• Leisure and Hospitality showed the strongest growth, adding 420 new jobs.
• Professional and Business Services remained stable, adding 110 jobs.
• Manufacturing and Education & Health Services saw minor job losses.

What Industries and Occupations Grew:

• Leisure and Hospitality: Restaurant Cooks, Servers, Hotel Housekeepers.
• Professional and Business Services: Marketing Specialists, Software Developers, Financial Analysts.
• Construction: Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers.
• Transportation and Warehousing: Delivery Drivers, Truck Drivers, Warehouse Associates.

What Industries and Occupations Shrank:

• Manufacturing: Production Workers, Machine Operators.
• Education and Health Services: Childcare Workers, Healthcare Support Occupations.

Compare to Same Month Last Year:

• Job growth in January 2024 was slower than January 2023, which saw a 2.5% increase.
• Unemployment rate remained similar to January 2023 (3.9%).

Compare to Previous Month:

• Job growth slowed down from December 2023‘s 1.8% increase.
• Unemployment rate rose slightly from December’s 3.5%.

Future Outlook:

While the national forecast suggests a potential economic slowdown, Asheville’s strong tourism industry and growing tech sector point towards continued job growth in the coming months. However, rising interest rates and inflation could pose challenges.

10 Growing Occupations:

1. Registered Nurses
2. Software Developers and Applications
3. Marketing Specialists
4. Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides
5. Home Health and Personal Care Aides
6. Physician Assistants
7. Wind Turbine Service Technicians
8. Solar Photovoltaic Installers
9. Construction Managers
10. Delivery Drivers

10 Companies Hiring Now:

1. Mission Health System
2. Buncombe County Government
3. Bank of America
4. Ingles Markets
5. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
6. Moog, Inc.
7. Black Mountain College
8. The Asheville School
9. OptumServe
10. EarthLink

Resources:

• Asheville Chamber of Commerce
• Bureau of Labor Statistics – Asheville, NC
• Indeed – Asheville Jobs