Major Industry Sectors

Moore County is a thriving, diverse commerce & industry hub.


Healthcare, Leisure & Hospitality, and Retail are our 3 largest industry sectors, currently employing almost 56% of our total workforce.  Manufacturing is also a consistently solid industry sector, and our defense & military industry is growing. Moore County is an attractive and convenient location for military contractors and suppliers, not only because the Fort Bragg Army installation, Pope Army Airfield, and the Camp Mackall training facility are our neighbors, but also because our workforce is enhanced by the large number of separated and retired military who have settled here to enjoy the exceptional lifestyle.

Moore County is committed to our established industries and strives to maintain a business climate that is conducive to their growth and success. But we also seek business relocations and expansions that further diversify our economic base and compliment our quality of life.

Moore County NC Industry

At a Glance:  All Industries (Public & Private Sectors) – 2021

Industry Sector Number of  Establishments Average Employment % to Total Employment
Total All Industries 2,885 35,685 100%
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing not provided
Mining not provided
Utilities 5 112 0.31%
Construction 257 1,629 4.56%
Manufacturing 86 1,751 4.91%
Wholesale Trade 106 571 1.60%
Retail Trade 356 4,713 13.21%
Transportation & Warehousing 60 677 1.90%
Information 43 274 0.77%
Finance & Insurance 142 635 1.78%
Real Estate 117 304 0.85%
Professional & Technical Services 383 1,492 4.18%
Management of Companies & Enterprises 20 358 1.00%
Admin, Support & Waste Services 55 1,088 4.84%
Educational Services 81 2,860 8.02%
Healthcare & Social Assistance 332 9,103 25.51%
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation 283 5,558 3.05%
Accommodation & Food Service 243 5,086 14.25%
Other Services (Except Public Admin) 289 1,246 3.49%
Public Administration 49 1,847 5.18%

Source:  NCDOC Labor & Economic Analysis Division, D4 System – Quarterly Census Employment & Wages

These are just a few of the quality companies and manufacturers that call Moore County home.

Moore County Manufacturers Spotlight

Healthcare Industry

Healthcare facilities occupy 3 places in the list of the top 10 private-sector employers in Moore County, so it’s not surprising that healthcare is our largest private industry sector, employing 30.3% of our private-sector workforce (2020).  Within this sector, FirstHealth of the Carolinas is the County’s largest private employer.  The healthcare industry is very significant to the local economy and also contributes to the area’s popularity as a retirement location.

Moore County’s Sandhills Community College offers programs in Health Sciences and Nursing to provide the workforce that our local healthcare facilities need.  Construction is underway on Foundation Hall, the new nursing education building, on SCC’s Pinehurst campus.

Moore County NC Healthcare
Pinehurst Golf

Tourism / Hospitality Industry

Tourism is our 2nd largest private industry sector.  Moore County set a record in visitor spending and recognized an unprecedented economic impact of $673 million from the tourism industry in 2021.  This is an increase of 70% in visitor spending over 2020.  According to Visit North Carolina, Moore County ranked 10th out of North Carolina’s 100 counties in total visitor spending in 2021.  Over 5,000 jobs were directly attributable to travel and tourism.

The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, & Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau tracks statistics related to Moore County’s tourism industry, such as visitor & golfer demographics, hotel occupancy data, and tourism’s local economic impact.

Retail Industry

Retail Trade is our 3rd largest private industry sector based on the number of workers employed.

The stores and shops in Moore County are frequented not only by residents and tourists, but also by the residents of the surrounding counties who view Moore County as a shopping destination.  In the past several years, Moore County has seen a tremendous increase in construction to expand the retail base in response to tourist traffic and the needs of residents.

Retail spaces and sites in Moore County are plentiful for new stores and restaurants wanting to locate here.

Moore County NC Healthcare

Manufacturing Industry

Manufacturing is the 5th largest private industry sector in Moore County based on the number of workers employed.  Moore County boasts a diversified and successful manufacturing sector with quite a few companies in operation here for over 20 years.  These companies produce a wide variety of products from kiosks to medical textiles to food packaging.

To provide the skilled workforce that our local manufacturers need, Sandhills Community College offers advanced manufacturing and trades programs on its campuses, and administers customized job training that can be delivered at the work site, on campus, or at another desired location for new and existing employees.

Largest Manufacturers for quarter ending December 31, 2021

Company Industry Description Employment Level
Ingersoll Rand Pneumatic Hand Tools 100-249
Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc. Infant Crib Mattresses 100-249
McMurray Fabrics, Inc. Textile Manufacturing 100-249
ATEX Technologies, Inc. Medical Textiles 100-249
nVent Electrical Protection Systems 100-249
Pinehurst Golf

Defense & Military Support Industry

The industry sector of Defense, Homeland Security and Military Support is emerging regionally, and as a result, it is growing in Moore County.  Our adjacent proximity to Fort Bragg, Pope Field, and Camp Mackall and the labor pool of separated and retired military who have settled here make Moore County an excellent, convenient location for defense-related companies, and these advantages also create numerous opportunities for almost any other type of business locating or starting up here.  Many local companies have already been successful at winning military contacts.  In 2020, 4,522 U.S. Defense Contracts totaling $285,930,621 were awarded to companies in Moore County.  Compared to 2019, the number of contracts awarded increased by more than 157%.

Moore County is part of the military-friendly All-American Defense Corridor region surrounding Fort Bragg, and we welcome defense-related industries.

Top 10 Largest Employers in Moore County – 1st Quarter 2022

EMPLOYER NAME INDUSTRY DESCRIPTION EMPLOYMENT LEVEL
FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Inc. Hospital & Affiliated Entities 3,000 +
Moore County Schools Public Education 1,800
Pinehurst LLC Hotel & Resort 500-999
County of Moore Governmental 500-999
Sandhills Community College Education 500-999
Pinehurst Medical Clinic, Inc. Health Services – Medical Center 500-999
Pinehurst Surgical Clinic, P.A. Health Services – Medical Center 250-499
Harris Teeter Retail Trade – Grocery Stores 250-499
Burfords Tree LLC Admin & Support/Waste Mgmt & Remediation 250-499
Lee Electrical Construction, Inc. Construction 250-499

Source:  NCDOC Labor & Economic Analysis Division, D4 System – Largest Employers