Catawba County Focused On Attracting Younger Workforce To Help Aging Economy

CATAWBA COUNTY, NC — Growth is happening all around us. Every county in every direction around Charlotte is seeing it. Some more than others.

While nearby counties are growing at a double digit rate, Catawba County isn’t nearly that close.

“We’re comfortable with growth. We know that a community that’s not growing is dying,” said Catawba County Manager Mary Furtado.

Census numbers show a mere 2.5% population increase in a three year span. That’s 8% less than their smaller but growing neighbor to the south, Lincoln County. On the other side of Lake Norman, Iredell County grew 3x faster.

Catawba County officials like Commissioner Randy Isenhower, say their focus is the declining population of the 25-44 age group.

“I think that’s our biggest concern and we’ve got plans for that as to how to bolster that working population,” explained Isenhower.

With an aging economy, Furtado say it’s key to the county’s future to bring in that younger population. Growing municipalities like Hickory, Newton and Sherrils Ford Terrell are already doing it.

“If you look at redevelopment efforts in any one of our major municipalities, you see that focus on nightlife, that focus on breweries and bars and outdoor gathering spaces,” said Furtado.

Entertainment helps keep a population in tact, but jobs are usually the reason people move.

The county knows manufacturing is the bread and butter but it’s looking to diversify to create a sustainable mix of industries with an emphasis on higher paying jobs.

“There is a growing concern not just here, but I think across across other growing areas about having the workers that are needed for the jobs. So data centers give us an investment without really putting pressure on our workforce supply,” said Isenhower.

Half of Catawba County’s population is over 65. Keeping one eye on the past and another on the future has it’s challenges and plenty of pushback.

“We look around the state and we see places we don’t like, and we say we don’t want to be the next fill in the blank. Those are the things that scare people who’ve been here for a while,” Furtado explained.