Thousands of federal employees out of work. Gov. Stein invites them to apply for NC jobs
With thousands of federal employees out of a job after President Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk’s slashing of the workforce, North Carolina could be a softer place to land.
Gov. Josh Stein announced a new website for those who are looking for work and interested in applying to become a North Carolina state employee on Friday, saying the state “is proud to welcome smart and dedicated public-spirited people to join our team.”
Beyond firing, laying off and offering buyouts to federal employees, the Trump administration is also ending some federal grants, which is also leading to large job losses. Thousands of people have marched in Raleigh and around the country in protest of what Trump and Mask have done.
North Carolina has a 20% vacancy rate in state government right now, which has improved only slightly since the pandemic.
The website, nc.gov/join-north-carolina, connects job seekers with a recruit at the Office of State Human Resources.
“If you have recently been displaced from your career of service, North Carolina encourages you to apply,” OSHR Director Staci Meyer said in the announcement from Stein’s office.
Earlier this month, Meyer told state lawmakers that it takes 182 days on average to hire a new state employee, citing the need to upgrade, streamline and simplify what she called an “antiquated” hiring system.
OSHR’s greatest challenge is recruitment and retention, she said then.
The recruitment website has information about state benefits, unemployment benefits and support for veterans.
Stein proposed a raise of 2% for most state employees in his state budget proposal this week.
This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Thousands of federal employees out of work. Gov. Stein invites them to apply for NC jobs."
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