 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Admissions
Campus Cruiser
Career Center
Catalogs & Schedules
Continuing Education
Current Students
Degree Programs
Directory
Distance Learning
Extension Offices
Faculty & Staff
Financial Aid
Future Students
Help Desk
Learning Resources Center
Small Business Center
Wellness Center
Home
Welcome | Step 1: Getting Started | Step 2: Operating a Business | |
||||||||
Community ProfileWhy Jacksonville and Onslow County are Growth MarketsThe South’s population grew by 667,000 between 2003 and 2004, according to the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. North Carolina was among the ten fastest growing states in the nation, growing by 120,000 people. Projections for Onslow County indicate a steady rise in population. A Top-notch Labor MarketThe area’s growth includes a larger pool of highly-educated people. This is attributed to the presence of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. Higher education is also supported by Coastal Carolina Community College and a number of four-year degree completion programs from universities. A highly-educated population makes Jacksonville and Onslow County a good labor environment for the relocation of service-related and manufacturing-related industries. Onslow County’s growth has led to an increase in doctors, educators, and other professionals. One attribute that makes Jacksonville and Onslow County so unique is its diversity as a market. As home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (including Marine Corps Air Station New River), the largest Marine Corps Base on the East Coast, the county truly embraces a “Whitman’s Sampler” of America. Marines, Sailors, and their families from all fifty states are stationed here. It makes for a vast potential market for everything from coats to cars. The military makes this market curiously unique in two ways. First, businesses gear their sales and promotional events around the first and middle of each month to coincide with military and civilian government employee pay periods. Second, every two to three years, the area loses military customers. But they are replaced by new customers, some from as far away as Okinawa. Thus, a well-planned and consistent marketing program becomes even more vital to businesses here. Businesses can target three distinct markets associated with the military:
Also vast are the markets outside the military, including medical and other professionals (city, state, and private), municipal, agricultural, and construction that have relocated here because of the area’s potential growth and lifestyle The labor force is primarily concentrated in service and government industries. However, ample affordable opportunities exist to train workers in virtually any industrial sector. Today’s military members are extremely well-trained, possessing skills and an understanding of today’s high-technology work environment that are directly transferable to the civilian sector. Annually, more than 5,500 men and women leave the service from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. These people are a proven commodity, having served their country honorably and faithfully for anywhere from four to over thirty years. All are at least high school graduates, with many having advanced degrees. Furthermore, many are multilingual. They are all team players, with a work ethic and a sense of responsibility that would be an asset to any employer. Many possess security clearances or could easily obtain them. Exit surveys have shown that Marines and Sailors love to stay in Eastern North Carolina because of the high quality of life, relatively low taxes, affordable cost of living, wonderful climate, friendly people, and many outdoor activities that are available because of our beaches and waterways. In addition to our exiting service members, many have spouses who share the same values as their active duty spouse, but bring their own unique skills to the workforce. These military spouses are often an underemployed or overlooked segment of our workforce. Onslow County at a GlanceCounty seat, largest city: Jacksonville Total population (2000 U.S. Census): 150,355
Civilian Labor Force (August 2005): 57,889 Total population, Camp Lejeune (2004):
Civilian workforce at Camp Lejeune (2004):
Economic impact of Camp Lejeune: $2.8 billion Transportation:
Seaports: Wilmington, Morehead City Travel (drive) time to interstate highways:
Major county roads:
Median age: 25 Age distribution (2000 U.S. census):
Average annual pay: $25,220 Personal income (per capita) (2003): $26,487 Median family income (2005): $33,756 Gross retail sales (June 2005): $131,354,670 Local workforce distribution (4th Quarter 2004):
|
||||||||
