Charlotte Metro Adds 37,000 Jobs, Ranks No. 2 Nationally as Hiring Screens Shut Out Applicants
Updated
Updated · K 104.7 · Jun 4
Charlotte Metro Adds 37,000 Jobs, Ranks No. 2 Nationally as Hiring Screens Shut Out Applicants
3 articles · Updated · K 104.7 · Jun 4
Summary
More than 37,000 jobs were added in the Charlotte metro area last year, according to the U.S. Labor Department, putting the region second among U.S. metros behind only New York City.
That strong employment growth has not translated into easier hiring for job seekers, as applicant tracking systems now filter resumes before recruiters see them and can reject qualified candidates on formatting or keyword mismatches.
Nearly every Fortune 500 company uses ATS software, career coach Andy Thomas said, and Charlotte-area employers often favor simple one-column resumes, exact job-posting requirements and LinkedIn profiles over traditional applications.
Blue-collar roles offer one route around those automated filters: HVAC technicians in the area earn about $95,000 to $115,000, while HVAC sales jobs can pay $200,000 to $300,000.
Thomas said face-to-face networking, personal outreach and mentors remain the best way to bypass automated screening in a metro still expanding its workforce rapidly.