Asheville Metro Economic Report 2015 First Quarter

Employment gains increased again for the first quarter of 2015, moving the Asheville metro to the second fastest growing metro in the state, surpassing both the statewide and national growth rate for the second consecutive quarter. Job gains were experienced in eight of the

eleven major industry sectors, adding a total of 6,600 net new jobs to the metro. The Leisure and Hospitality sector led with 2,400 new jobs added, followed by the Health Service and the Retail Trade sectors which contributed an additional 3,300 jobs cumulatively.