Section 04: Tech Industry Metrics
Tech Subcategory
5-Year Job Change
Explore Tech Industry subcategories 5-year job change by percentage and state ranking
The following section is split into Life Sciences Industry, Energy Tech Industry, Environmental Tech Industry, Tech Services Output Group, & Tech Manufacturing Output Group.
LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY SUBCATEGORY
Life Sciences was the fastest-growing tech subcategory in the state from 2019 to 2024. In 2024, North Carolina had an employment concentration in Life Sciences of 1.12. This was the #13 most concentrated Life Sciences economy in the nation. The subcategory has expanded jobs at a rate of 25% over the last five years. That growth ranked #12 in the nation—an impressive feat considering Life Sciences jobs were already concentrated in the state. Job growth in this sector has primarily been in the research and development industries, which have added about 8,280 net new jobs in the last five years.
| Metric | Value | Rank |
|---|---|---|
|
Life Sciences Employment Concentration (2024) |
1.13 |
13 |
|
Life Sciences Job Change (2019-2024) |
25.3% |
12 |
|
Expected Life Sciences Job Change (2025-2030) |
7.7% |
19 |
|
Average Earnings for Life Sciences Employees with Purchasing Power (2024) |
$151,732 |
16 |
Life Sciences 5-Year Job change by percentage and state ranking
Source: EL calculations based on Lightcast 2025.4
Energy tech industry subcategory
The Energy Tech subcategory represents a small portion of North Carolina’s economy and is 54% less concentrated than the national average in terms of employment. However, as the nation’s energy mix shifts to cleaner technologies, states like North Carolina are positioned for growth in wind, solar, nuclear, and carbon capture. Renewable energy jobs grew by 87% in the last five years. This included the addition of about 390 jobs in solar and 400 jobs in the nuclear power generation industries. The state has remained a top growth state for energy tech and is projected to add jobs in this industry group at the #6 highest rate over the next five years.
| Metric | Value | Rank |
|---|---|---|
|
Energy Tech Employment Concentration (2024) |
0.46 |
40 |
|
Energy Tech Job Change (2019-2024) |
10.7% |
8 |
|
Expected Energy Tech Job Change (2025-2030) |
10.3% |
6 |
|
Average Annual Wage for Energy Tech Employees with Purchasing Power (2024) |
$164,022 |
43 |
Energy Tech 5-Year Job Change by Percentage and State Ranking
Source: EL calculations based on Lightcast 2025.4
Environmental tech industry subcategory
The historical data for environmental tech in North Carolina showed poor performance, but this is largely driven by the reclassification of 4,900 jobs in Durham County from environmental tech to corporate office jobs in 2022. The job growth rate from 2023 to 2024 was 7%. This recent growth is being driven by the battery manufacturing and environmental consulting services industries. This subsector has received federal investment through the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act. There were nine major battery and EV manufacturing announcements in North Carolina with an associated investment of about $21 billion. Since changes to the federal administration and challenging economic conditions, some of these companies have paused, canceled, or slowed their plans.
| Metric | Value | Rank |
|---|---|---|
|
Environmental Tech Employment Concentration (2024) |
0.94 |
33 |
|
Environmental Tech Job Change (2019-2024) |
-4.7% |
47 |
|
Expected Environmental Tech Job Change (2025-2030) |
8.6% |
10 |
|
Average Annual Wage for Environmental Tech Employees with Purchasing Power (2024) |
$97,051 |
27 |
Environmental Tech 5-Year Job Change by Percentage and State Ranking
Source: EL calculations based on Lightcast 2025.4
Note: From 2021 to 2022, there was a reclassification of 4,990 jobs from an enviromental tech industry to the corporate offices industry.
Tech Services Output Group
Next, tech groupings based on output type were evaluated. Tech services represent the high-tech core services such as social media, data storage, telecommunications, and software companies. North Carolina had the #18 most concentrated tech services employment, with a concentration ratio of 0.96. Growth in tech services has historically placed North Carolina among the top ten states in the country. The state dropped from the top 15 in adjusted earnings to #19 place.
| Metric | Value | Rank |
|---|---|---|
|
Tech Services Employment Concentration (2024) |
0.96 |
18 |
|
Tech Services Job Change (2019-2024) |
25.3% |
6 |
|
Expected Tech Services Job Change (2025-2030) |
10.7% |
6 |
|
Avg Annual Earnings for Tech Services Employees Adjusted for Purchasing Power (2024) |
$157,364 |
19 |
Tech Services 5-Year Job Change by Percentage and State Ranking
Source: EL calculations based on Lightcast 2025.4
Tech Manufacturing Output Group
Tech manufacturing is highly concentrated and well compensated in North Carolina. Growth rates for the group have not been among the highest nationally. In the most recent five years, the state lost jobs. This grouping has been impacted by the NAICS code reclassification in Durham County. This impact should continue to smooth out in future years. The group saw a small drop of about 70 net jobs from 2023 to 2024. Manufacturing jobs of all types have declined in the state in recent years, with many of these losses occurring in legacy industries such as furniture, textiles, and tobacco. Jobs in many tech manufacturing industries—such as pharmaceutical production, battery manufacturing, and semiconductors—are adding workers at high rates.
| Metric | Value | Rank |
|---|---|---|
|
Tech Manufacturing Employment Concentration (2024) |
1.20 |
11 |
|
Tech Manufacturing Job Change (2019-2024) |
-0.1% |
30 |
|
Expected Tech Manufacturing Job Change (2025-2030) |
5.3% |
31 |
|
Average Annual Earnings for Tech Manufacturing Employees Adjusted for Purchasing Power (2024) |
$157,322 |
10 |
Tech Manufacturing 5-Year Job Change by Percentage and State Ranking
