South By North Strategies, Ltd.

CHAPEL HILL (September 4, 2012) – The Global Research Institute of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has released two policy reports that explore aspects of the economic recession in North Carolina and the state’s path toward recovery. Both reports draw  on data compiled by South by North Strategies, Ltd., a research firm specializing in economic and social policy.

North Carolina’s labor market has struggled since late 2007, and regardless of the outcome of Election 2012, the state’s next governor and legislature will face complicated choices regarding how best to steer the state toward economic prosperity. To help inform that process, the Global Research Institute convened several meetings of civic leaders drawn from diverse backgrounds and sectors during the first half of 2012.

Those discussions culminated in the development of two policy reports that combine social and economic data with the perspectives solicited at the meetings. The reports pay special attention to issues related to the labor market, workforce development, and higher education.

The first report, entitled Recession and Recovery in North Carolina: A Data Snapshot, 2007-12, presents a wealth of data tracing changes in the state’s labor market over the past 4.5 years and discusses key ways in which the “Great Recession” has altered the state’s labor market.

The second report, entitled Moving Beyond Plato Versus Plumbing: Individualized Education and Career Passways for All North Carolinians, contextualizes current state-level policy debates regarding post-secondary education, analyzes future occupational requirements, and presents recommendations for helping young people with diverse talents succeed in today’s labor market.