The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the U.S. economy, with unemployment peaking at , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While jobs have been gaining since, millions of out-of-work Americans are still searching for jobs.
Before COVID-19 gutted the economy, the United States' economic landscape was , with health care, computer systems design, and scientific industries leading a push for more employment. On the flip side, industries like wired telecommunications, postal service, and textile production are showing a rapid decline. With the development of newer and more advanced technologies every day, the job landscape is shifting and so are the pay demands and prerequisite skills. There is a strong correlation between advanced education and a higher salary鈥攚orkers with higher education levels have higher wages and lower unemployment rates. Of course, it should be noted that obstacles remain for universal access to quality higher education.
compiled a list of industries with the highest employment in Asheville, NC Metro Area using data from . Industries are ranked by number of employees as of 2019.
Keep reading to see which industries in Asheville are the surest bets for employment.
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#19. Management of companies and enterprises
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 71 (0.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +16.4%
National
- Employed: 232,031
- Percent of total employment: 0.1%
- #20 most common industry nationwide
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#18. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 450 (0.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +49.5%
National
- Employed: 799,011
- Percent of total employment: 0.5%
- #19 most common industry nationwide
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#17. Utilities
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 667 (0.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -60.4%
National
- Employed: 1,272,369
- Percent of total employment: 0.8%
- #18 most common industry nationwide
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#16. Information
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 2,354 (1.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +18.2%
National
- Employed: 2,959,616
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #16 most common industry nationwide
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#15. Wholesale trade
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 3,923 (1.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -10.8%
National
- Employed: 4,013,368
- Percent of total employment: 2.5%
- #13 most common industry nationwide
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#14. Real estate and rental and leasing
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 6,080 (2.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +15.9%
National
- Employed: 3,034,330
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #15 most common industry nationwide
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#13. Finance and insurance
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 6,591 (3.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +4.9%
National
- Employed: 7,263,440
- Percent of total employment: 4.6%
- #10 most common industry nationwide
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#12. Transportation and warehousing
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 7,218 (3.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +92.5%
National
- Employed: 7,665,636
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #8 most common industry nationwide
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#11. Administrative and support and waste management services
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 7,486 (3.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -21.3%
National
- Employed: 6,766,918
- Percent of total employment: 4.3%
- #12 most common industry nationwide
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#10. Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 7,627 (3.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +70.7%
National
- Employed: 3,532,697
- Percent of total employment: 2.2%
- #14 most common industry nationwide
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#9. Public administration
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 8,109 (3.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -10.0%
National
- Employed: 7,140,292
- Percent of total employment: 4.5%
- #11 most common industry nationwide
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#8. Other services, except public administration
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 10,254 (4.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +22.3%
National
- Employed: 7,584,054
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #9 most common industry nationwide
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#7. Professional, scientific, and technical services
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 14,365 (6.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +63.6%
National
- Employed: 11,765,340
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #6 most common industry nationwide
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#6. Construction
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 19,553 (8.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +66.2%
National
- Employed: 11,036,894
- Percent of total employment: 7.0%
- #7 most common industry nationwide
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#5. Educational services
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#4. Manufacturing
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 23,113 (10.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +30.3%
National
- Employed: 15,770,698
- Percent of total employment: 9.9%
- #3 most common industry nationwide
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#3. Retail trade
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 24,152 (10.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -2.4%
National
- Employed: 17,216,634
- Percent of total employment: 10.8%
- #2 most common industry nationwide
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#2. Accommodation and food services
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 26,887 (12.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +76.1%
National
- Employed: 11,801,878
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #5 most common industry nationwide
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#1. Health care and social assistance
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Employed: 32,034 (14.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -6.3%
National
- Employed: 22,131,751
- Percent of total employment: 13.9%
- #1 most common industry nationwide
