NC Strategic Scorecard
4.3.1 Competitive Wages

Target: At least 100% of US average wage
Actual: 88% of US average
US Rank 2004: 28th (up from 30th in 1995)
SE Rank 2004: 3rd (up from 5th in 1995)
SE Region: AL FL GA KY MS NC SC TN VA WV   Updated 3/29/06
 
Primary Performance Indicator

Average Annual Wages
 Performance Trend:
Stable
The trend depicts the degree to which actual performance has approached the target in recent years.
Comments
•
 NC has made some progress over the last decade in its effort to pay competitive wages.
•
 Since 1995, NC’s average wages have risen slightly from 87% to just over 88% of the average national wage.
•
 In addition, from 1995 to 2004, NC's national rank improved from 30th to 28th and its regional rank jumped from 5th to 3rd in this measure.
  Definition (What Is Being Measured)
Total annual wages, bonuses and other payments for employees covered by unemployment insurance divided by average monthly number of employees.
Source: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages: Annual Data Tables, US Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census; Rrankings from Morgan Quitno.		 Relevance (Why This Is Important)
While average wage data does not account for all market, employment sector and job type variances, it roughly reflects the competitiveness of NC wages (i.e., higher wages attract a more qualified workforce over time). In 2001, a living wage was defined as $8.50 per hour in rural areas and $11 per hour in urban areas.
 
Other Highlights
North Carolina
•
 The ability of the state economy to generate full-time jobs can significantly affect average wages.
•
 From 2000 to 2003, the percent of part-time workers wanting full-time jobs grew from 11.0% to 17.2% (Source: NC Budget and Tax Center).
•
 In 2003, the percent of NC’s labor force deemed under-employed was 11.1%-- higher than the rate for both the nation (10.1%) and South Atlantic states (9.0%) (Source: NC Budget and Tax Center).
  
 
• NC is one of 36 states with its minimum wage rate fixed at the national rate of $5.15; only one state in the SE region has a higher minimum wage (Florida with a rate of $6.15).
Southeast Region
National
•
 The national minimum wage rate is $5.15 per hour.
Global
  Data Links
US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
  
NC Department of Labor
NC Budget and Tax Center
Imperative 4:   High Performance Workforce
Goal 4.3: Support Safe & Rewarding Work Environments