Gov. Stein announces new workforce council during Forsyth Tech visit

Governor Josh Stein visited Forsyth Technical Community College Tuesday to announce a new executive order.

The Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships will operate within the North Carolina Works Commission. Stein said the council aims to build on existing efforts but emphasized the need for the state to take further action.

“North Carolina can set the pace for this country when it comes to growing the number of skilled workers," Stein said. "We can double the number of apprentices over the next four years. We can empower hundreds of thousands of our people with credentials that they need to secure good-paying employment.”

Stein also backed Propel NC, a recently unveiled community college funding model. It’s designed to connect students to jobs in high-demand fields such as advanced manufacturing, information technology and health care. 

Stein will co-chair the council alongside Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley, State Senator Eddie Settle and North Carolina Community Colleges President Dr. Jeff Cox.

Cox cited employment projections from the Labor & Economic Analysis Division, which estimate over 500,000 job openings within the state by 2031.

“The North Carolina Community College System, and our great 58 local colleges, are ready to support and deliver the talent pipeline that our North Carolina employers need," Cox said.

Forsyth Tech president Janet Spriggs introduced Stein along with the other council co-chairs, and touted some of the school’s accomplishments.

“We now have 50 employer partners that offer apprenticeships to our students," Spriggs said. "And that is what community colleges do best: meet people where they are, and prepare them for quality jobs in high-demand fields.”

According to CNBC, North Carolina has been named a top-three state for business five times since 2019 .