Economy

Charlotte Among 50 American Cities Adding the Most Jobs

Paul Ausick

Published: September 23, 2016 12:55 pm

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 3:14 am

Until the events surrounding the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott earlier this week, Charlotte, North Carolina, had achieved a public image as an example of a New South city that was flourishing in both economic progress and civic pride. How long it will be before the city can overcome the stain of recent events is anyone’s guess.

Perhaps as important is sharp rise in new jobs in the four-year period between 2012 and 2016. In a 24/7 Wall St. survey completed in mid-August, Charlotte emerged as the 12th-ranked U.S. city for new job creation. The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metropolitan area posted some impressive numbers:

> Employment increase: 13.8%
> No. of jobs June 2012: 1,061,344
> No. of jobs June 2016: 1,208,076
> Unemployment rate June 2016: 4.6%

The national unemployment rate in June was 4.9%. Health care and social assistance, retail trade, state and local government and the professional and business services sectors are the nation’s major industry employers. Here are the 50 U.S. cities that have added the most jobs.