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.
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







Expansion in Carthage:
Multimillion Dollar Expansion Underway for Southern Pines Brewing Company

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.
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.
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 |
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