page_title: Economy of North Carolina
section_title: The state economy
hierarchical_section_title: Economy of North Carolina / The state economy
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of the state of North Carolina showing the gold region of the state, 1847. Image courtesy of learnnc.org.
context_page_description: In 2017, North Carolina's total gross state product was $540.497 billion. In 2011 the civilian labor force was at around 4.5 million with employment near 4.1 million. The working population is employed across the major employment sectors. The economy of North Carolina covers 15 metropolitan areas.
context_section_description: According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state's 2010 total gross state product was $424.9 billion, making it the ninth wealthiest state in terms of gross domestic product. Its 2007 per capita personal income was $33,735, placing 36th in the nation.  North Carolina's agricultural outputs include poultry and eggs, tobacco, hogs, milk, nursery stock, cattle, sweet potatoes, and soybeans.
  There has been a distinct difference in the economic growth of North Carolina's urban and rural areas. While large cities such as Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, and others have experienced rapid population and economic growth over the last thirty years, many of the state's small towns have suffered from loss of jobs and population. Most of North Carolina's small towns historically developed around textile and furniture factories. However, North Carolina has been affected by offshoring and industrial growth in countries like China; one in five manufacturing jobs in the state has been lost to overseas competition. As these factories closed and moved to low-wage markets in Asia and Latin America, the small towns that depended upon them have suffered.
  The first gold nugget found in the U.S. was found in Cabarrus County in 1799. The first gold dollar minted in the U.S. was minted at the Bechtler Mint in Rutherford County.
caption: Map of North Carolina showing "The Gold Region." 1847
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