Energy Industry Overview

According to Riverbird Research, the concentration of jobs in the energy industry across an 18-county area of WNC was on par with the national average in 2022.

The 2017-2022 jobs growth rate of -10% was not comparable to the state’s overall 5% rate of change, supporting employment of 937 individuals earning an average annual wage of $103,963 across 58 payrolled business locations. Job loss was largely a reflection of the decline in the Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation industry. It is notable that 64% of employment was in the Electric Power Distribution industry, followed by Natural Gas Distribution with 16% of the group's jobs. 

The energy industry in Buncombe County supported 355 of those jobs in 2022, followed by Rutherford County’s energy businesses which supported 98 of those jobs.

Technology Industry Overview

According to Riverbird Research, the concentration of jobs in the technology industry across an 18-county area of WNC was approximately 63% less compared to the national average in 2022.

The 2017-2022 jobs growth rate of 27% was strong, but slower than the state’s overall 35% rate of change, supporting employment of 2,244 individuals earning an average annual wage of $90,280 across 600 payrolled business locations.

The technology industry in Buncombe County supported 891 of those jobs in 2022, followed by Macon County’s technology businesses which supported 705 of those jobs.