North Carolina’s economy is strutting near the front of the national pack, with a new national ranking putting the state sixth overall and spotlighting strong GDP gains and a growing concentration of tech jobs. State economic-development officials are likely to treat the showing as fresh proof of momentum. For many residents, though, headline growth still does not always translate into bigger paychecks or easier housing costs.
Local coverage from CBS17 broke down the numbers and zeroed in on what the ranking could mean for Raleigh and the Research Triangle’s recruiting pitch. The station highlighted gains across several growth measures and the profile of high-tech employment hubs that are drawing outside investment.
Statewide ranking and the metrics behind it
A report by WalletHub, published June 1, 2026, compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 indicators and placed North Carolina sixth overall with a total score of 60.25. WalletHub’s breakdown put the state high on growth, including a top-six showing for GDP growth, and gave strong marks for the share of high-tech jobs, while ranking it 14th for startup activity, 10th for change in nonfarm payrolls, 20th for unemployment rate and 23rd for median household income. “A strong state economy doesn’t guarantee success for the state’s residents, but it certainly makes financial success more attainable,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo wrote in the report.
Jobs and pay on the ground
State labor data show an unemployment rate of 3.7% for April 2026 and an increase of about 16,000 nonfarm jobs that month, with gains concentrated in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and construction, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Those numbers underscore how job growth is uneven across sectors, with manufacturing and information employment lagging behind the broader gains.
Where the growth is coming from
Tech employment has been a major driver of North Carolina’s score. NCTech finds steep IT hiring in its 2026 State of Technology report and ranks the state among top performers on several tech metrics, including rapid job growth in tech occupations. That mix of a growing tech workforce, comparatively affordable in-state tuition and an expanding pipeline of STEM graduates helps explain the state’s marks for innovation potential, even as geographic pay gaps persist.
What it means for residents
Despite the high ranking on many growth measures, household-level indicators lag. Census data compiled by USAFacts show North Carolina’s median household income at roughly $74,000 in 2024. That disparity helps explain why statewide rankings can coexist with local affordability challenges and why advocates urge policies that spread gains beyond the high-tech corridors.
WalletHub’s report gives North Carolina a punchy talking point in economic pitches and policymaking. The unresolved question for experts and community groups is whether that statewide momentum can be turned into broadly shared prosperity.
