The role of manufacturing and in-migration in North Carolina’s unemployment spike

Why has North Carolina’s unemployment rate ranked among the nation’s highest since the latest national economic downturn? N.C. State University economist Michael Walden points to two major factors: the state economy’s heavy reliance on manufacturing and North Carolina’s high in-migration rate.

Walden researched those factors and others affecting unemployment throughout the 50 states. He discussed his findings during a presentation today to the John Locke Foundation’s Shaftesbury Society. In the video clip below, Walden explains how North Carolina might have fared if its manufacturing sector and in-migration rates matched national averages.

1:40 p.m. update: Click play below to watch the full 39:45 event.

You’ll find other John Locke Foundation video presentations here.