WNC Manufacturing Sector Rebounds With 4,400 Job Openings Despite Post-Helene Layoffs

ASHEVILLE — Western North Carolina's manufacturing economy is showing signs of resilience despite a wave of post-Hurricane Helene layoffs, with more than 310 regional manufacturers actively advertising upward of 4,400 job openings as companies compete for skilled workers in a tightening labor market.The N.C. Department of Commerce reports that manufacturing remains one of the region's largest employment sectors, supporting more than 100,000 workers across the mountain counties. The sector took a