Hundreds of new manufacturing jobs are coming to Wilson, Gov. John Stein announced Friday, as Johnson & Johnson decided to build a multibillion-dollar expansion on its existing operations in the city.
The pharmaceutical giant recently invested heavily in North Carolina, spending billions on its Wilson plant as well as a Holly Springs plant that the company first announced would take place in 2023 and then announced an expansion in August.
The new factory will produce cancer drugs and more once it is operational. Stein gave no timeline for when the plant would open, but said it was just the latest in a string of economic development victories for the state in the biopharmaceutical field.
“I appreciate Johnson & Johnson’s confidence that North Carolina is a great place to grow its business and create more good-paying jobs,” Stein said. “Life sciences leaders continue to choose North Carolina because our skilled workforce and commitment to specialized training provide the talent companies need to help patients across the United States and around the world.
The state will provide $12 million for a new program at Wilson Community College to help the company train new workers to fill vacant positions. The proposal has bipartisan support in the state legislature, earning praise from Sen. Buck Newton (R-Wilson) and Rep. Dante Pittman (D-Wilson).
“North Carolina’s low tax environment and our investment in Wilson Community College’s BEST Center continue to attract new, good-paying jobs to the region,” Newton said in a news release.
“Johnson & Johnson’s continued investment in Wilson County creates new pathways for our people to access high-value careers in the life sciences,” Pittman said. “This growth further highlights the need for workforce training initiatives.”
Wilson County had an unemployment rate of 4.9% in September, according to the most recent data available, well above the state average of 3.8%.
