Burke County’s unemployment rate remained at 4% for November, which is the highest rate among counties in the area.
The county’s unemployment rate also was at 4% in October. There are 40,281 people in the workforce in Burke County and 1,609 of them are out of work, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce. The November rate in 2023 was 3.2%.
Of the counties in the area, Burke’s rate remained higher than Catawba, Caldwell and Alexander counties, with Caldwell coming in with the next highest rate of 3.8%.
Burke’s rate was higher than the Hickory-Lenoir-Â鶹´«Ã½ metropolitan statistical area, which was 3.7% in November, up from 3.5% in October.
The state unemployment rate for November was 3.7%.
While Burke’s unemployment rate is at 4%, employers in the county are looking for workers in retail, government, food service, tax preparation and more, according to NCWorks job listings.
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H&R Block in Morganton, Valdese and Hildebran is looking for receptionists, associate team leaders and tax professionals and associates.
The city of Â鶹´«Ã½ has openings for a meter reader and a meter services technician in the electric department, a maintenance worker in the street department, a distribution and collection system operator in the water resources department, part-time positions in the recreation department and the Â鶹´«Ã½ Community House, and a senior planner.
Burke County Government has 19 openings, including for social workers and case workers with social services, a part-time library assistant in Morganton, 911 telecommunicators, real estate appraiser, a part-time senior services program assistant, a part-time concession worker, a sheriff’s deputy and paramedics.
The N.C. Department of Corrections has openings in Burke County for judicial services coordinators, correctional officers, case managers, maintenance/construction technician and a dentist.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has openings at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center for several nurse positions, health care technicians and food service assistants.
Quality Oil Company on Carbon City Road in Â鶹´«Ã½ needs a manager, assistant manager and cashier. Quality Oil Company also is looking for a maintenance worker and a manager.
Other retail locations that have job openings in the area include PetSmart with 11 openings, Lowe’s Home Improvement with 10 openings and Dollar Tree with nine openings.
Food service businesses with job openings in the area include Food Lion (32 openings in Morganton, Valdese and Hildebran), Burger King (11 openings), Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (16 openings) and Buffalo Wild Wings (15 openings).
In manufacturing, MillerKnoll in Hildebran has 15 openings, and Valdese Weavers has 16 openings.
In addition, there are jobs available in disaster recovery in nearby counties, including McDowell, Buncombe and Catawba counties.
To look for open positions in Burke and surrounding counties, visit .
