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Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency,Inc. • North Carolina's traditional"middle jobs"--those that paid a family-sustaining wage and required minimal formal education or training—are disappearing as part of this transition. • New job creation is concentrating in certain fast-growing metropolitan areas • Many areas of North Carolina are not prospering from the economic transformation • The future prosperity of all North Carolinians depends on achieving higher educational attainment levels for all citizens • Impending baby-boom retirements will exacerbate an emerging skills gap among experienced, skilled workers • High-skill in-migrants present both opportunities and challenges in meeting the state's workforce needs. These trends are evident in both Rowan and Cabarrus Counties.According to the Centralina Workforce Development Board's labor market overview.Cabarrus County's unemployment rate is 4.3%,slightly lower than the state's unemployment rate;however, Rowan County's unemployment rate is 5.3%,which is higher than the state's unemployment rate of 4.8%. Rowan County's job market has been one of the hardest hit in North Carolina. This is a direct result of the closing of several area manufacturing plants.According to the Rowan County Free Press(March 22,2096 edition)"Rowan County's impoverished economy moves closer and closer to being taken off life support".This comment was made following the news of the closing of Tuscarora Yams,an area mill that had been operating in the county for 30 years.The closing resulted in 123 millworkers losing their jobs. In the last year, no significant job growth as occurred in either county, however,the 2016 2,14 quarter, Labor market overview reported that Rowan County has announced that Aldo Products is expected to have 20 job openings and Intercon Inc.is expected to have 15 job openings. In Cabarrus County, iTek Graphics is expected to have 15 job openings. The positions range from executives to front line production workers. Although there is some expected job growth reported for both Rowan and Cabarrus Counties. It is imperative that the growth be consistent over an extended period of time in order to make an impact on the unemployment rates for both service areas,and that the skill levels required for these positions be comparable to those possessed by those in need of employment. Otherwise, there may be little to no effect on the overall unemployment rate. EducationNocation The 2016 Employer Needs Survey conducted by the North Carolina Department of Commerce reported that many of the past hiring difficulties still exist for employers in the Manufacturing, Construction, Healthcare, and STEM industries with 61%of employers reporting that education, certifications and training was the leading cause of hiring difficulties. According to the United States Census Bureau,those age 25 years and up in Rowan County reported to have obtained a Bachelor Degree was 17.2%of the county's population,and in Cabarrus County,26.2%of the county's population was reported to have obtained a Bachelor Degree. Although Cabarrus County's reported percentage for education is slightly lower than North Carolina's state reported percentage of 27.8%, Rowan County is significantly lower which directly contributes to the counties higher rate of unemployment.This trend as remained consistent in the past several years for urban and rural counties such as Rowan. Fiscal Year 2017-18 Community Services Block Grant Application Attachment number 2\n Page 19 of 37 F-9 Page 122