The e-commerce giant is opening new delivery stations in Tarboro, Jacksonville, Southern Pines, Mount Airy and Hayesville. The expansion comes as the state’s transportation and warehousing sector nears record employment levels, reflecting a decades-long shift from traditional manufacturing to logistics and distribution work.
The additions come as North Carolina’s transportation and warehousing sector approaches employment levels not seen since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of December, the state had about 200,000 workers employed in transportation and warehousing, nearing the historical peak during the pandemic, when more consumers were ordering goods online. As traditional manufacturing — textile mills and furniture factories — has declined in this growing state, ecommerce and advanced manufacturing, such as pharmaceuticals, have expanded.
N.C.’s central location on the East Coast, highway network, increase of population and its growing consumer base made the state an attractive for distribution centers serving the Southeast.
The state had roughly 179,900 transportation and warehousing jobs in 2020. Tens of thousands more could be created in the next eight years, according to state projections.
Amazon says it has invested more than $17.2 billion in N.C. since 2010, creating over 27,500 direct full- and part-time jobs, plus 16,500 additional jobs in construction, logistics and professional services.
The new delivery stations are part of a $4 billion investment by Amazon to grow its rural delivery network, nearly doubling the average monthly customers in rural areas receiving same-day delivery year-over-year.
“Amazon’s continued investment in North Carolina demonstrates a shared commitment to building economic opportunity in every corner of our state,” Gov. Josh Stein said in a statement Wednesday. “This partnership has brought thousands of good jobs to North Carolina, and this expansion … will create long-term opportunities for North Carolina families.”
