As a general rule, people like to live and work in an area that suits their lifestyles. The Southern Coast is a great place to do just that, offering a variety of lifestyles, from urban chic to country cool, and, of course, beach and waterfront R&R, all with a moderate climate, great amenities and an overall unemployment rate of about 3.9 percent. No wonder new residents are flocking to our shores.
According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce (www.nccommerce.com), the coastal counties of New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender grew nearly 24 percent overall since 2000, surpassing the state's 21.4 percent growth rate. Brunswick County, with an area of 854 square miles, and a population of 92,686, earned distinction in 2007 as the 14th fastest growing county in the nation. New Hanover County, encompassing only 198 square miles, most of which is the City of Wilmington, has a population of more than 185,222. Pender County, with 870 square miles, has a population of about 47,833.
During the first few years of the twenty-first century, overall economic growth for the three-county region rose nearly 10 percent to $9.7 billion, according to information compiled at the Cameron School of Business at UNCW. By workforce, the largest is service at 27 percent, with the bulk of employment opportunities in such diverse occupations as physicians, government workers, real estate brokers, educators, service-oriented business, hotel staff and restaurant employees. Next is retail trade at 24 percent, reflecting the influence of tourism in the area. In 2006, retail sales tax collections indicated strong growth in that sector for the three Cape Fear coastal counties; Brunswick County was up about 8 percent with collections reaching $40 million, Pender County was up a whopping 15 percent at $11 million and New Hanover County was up 7 percent at $129 million.
Despite a growing trend toward year-round tourism in southeastern North Carolina, the rise and fall of economic activity throughout the year, especially during the summer months, is a fact of life for coastal counties. Employment trends have been difficult to predict during recent years because of rapid population growth, new companies entering the marketplace and other factors. However, on a historical basis, both the labor force and the number of people employed peak during June through August and bottom out during the December to January period.
The largest industrial employer in the county is General Electric, with nearly 1,800 employees making nuclear fuel assemblies and aircraft engine parts. PPD pharmaceuticals, having moved its corporate headquarters into Wilmington's tallest building, employs more than 1,000 people, and Verizon Wireless employees more than 1,200. Other industrial employers of note include Corning, producing optical fibers, and International Paper, which produces pulp and paperboard.
The State Port is the gateway to North Carolina for many goods entering the country. As from the beginning of the area's history, it ties trade to the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. Rice and cotton, the port's historical imports, have given way to wood pulp, furniture and grain, but the principal remains. North Carolina's southern coast is ruled by the sea.
