At the center of North Carolina’s urban crescent which has a population of 8 million and growing, the Carolina Core offers a highly skilled, loyal and educated workforce of more than 2.2 million people.
Epicenter of Academic Excellence
To say the Carolina Core is an “educational hub” would be an understatement. With access to more than 30 colleges and universities, this region is the academic nucleus driving the state’s skilled workforce and creating a more innovative, more vibrant North Carolina.
From Davidson-Davie Community College to Forsyth Technical Community College and Guilford Technical Community College, community colleges in the area provide hands-on training and certifications for their students, and partner with industry leaders to generate customized educational solutions.
Meanwhile, top-notch four-year institutions, including Campbell University, Elon University, Fayetteville State University, High Point University, North Carolina A&T State University, UNC Greensboro, Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University, are educating thousands of students in cutting-edge fields like nanoengineering, bioethics and global trade and commerce. It is no wonder the Carolina Core is recognized as a beacon of academic excellence and ingenuity, attracting top talent from around the world.
Diverse Talent Pool
The region also offers a diverse workforce. As one example, NC A&T State University, the nation’s largest historically Black university, produces more African American engineers than any other college in the U.S.
North Carolina also boasts the fourth largest military population in America, producing a deep and diverse bench of talent as service men and women retire, often at an early age. Located west of Fayetteville, Fort Liberty, (formerly Fort Bragg) is home of the U.S. Army’s Airborne and Special Operations and has approximately 53,700 troops and another 14,000 civilians at work on the post.
Cultivating a Capable Workforce
The Carolina Core doesn’t stop at the status quo. Here, we are committed to continually pushing the boundaries of workforce development. That’s why we invest in a variety of innovative initiatives, such as internship and apprenticeship programs, as well as strategic partnerships designed to enhance educational outcomes and strengthen academic achievement.
These programs provide young people with hands-on training and skills in engineering, robotics, cybersecurity, IT and more, preparing them for the in-demand careers of today and tomorrow. Programs include, the Alamance County Career Accelerator Program, Apprenticeship Randolph, Campus Greensboro, Guilford Apprenticeship Partners, LEAP at Forsyth Tech, RockATOP, and Winston-Salem’s internship program.
At the state level, NCWorks Commission is the workforce development board executing a comprehensive four-year plan to deliver workforce development programs that will prepare North Carolina’s talent through education and skills training and support the state’s businesses by scaling local innovation. For example, NCWorks supports Governor Roy Cooper’s workforce initiative, NC Job Ready, and oversees the Local Innovation Fund, a $2 million fund financing grants to communities to pilot innovative programs or adapt and replicate successful program models that address local or regional workforce needs.
Meanwhile, myFutureNC, a statewide nonprofit funded by major foundations including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is working tirelessly to ensure that 2 million North Carolinians have high-quality credentials or post-secondary degrees by 2030, setting the stage for the state’s prosperous future.
