1. REGIONAL SNAPSHOT Industry Cluster Analysis
Foothills Region, North Carolina

2. Table of contents 01
Overview 02
Industry Cluster Analysis

3. Industry cluster analysis01
Industry cluster analysis
How to interpret results of cluster analysis

4. Industry cluster analysis
How to interpret cluster data results The graph’s four quadrants tell a different story for each cluster.
Emerging
Bottom right
(weak but advancing)
Stars
Top right (strong and advancing)
Mature
Top left (strong but declining)
Transforming
Bottom left
(weak and
declining)
Contains clusters that are more
concentrated in the region but
are declining (negative growth).
These clusters typically fall
into the lower quadrant as
job losses cause a decline
in concentration.
Contains clusters that are more
concentrated in the region and are
growing. These clusters are
strengths that help a region
stand out from the competition.
Small, high-growth clusters
can be expected to become
more dominant over time.
Contains clusters that are
under-represented in the
region (low concentration)
and are also losing jobs.
Clusters in this region may
indicate a gap in the workforce
pipeline if local industries anticipate
a future need. In general, clusters in this
quadrant show a lack of competitiveness.
Contains clusters that are
under-represented in the
region but are growing, often
quickly. If growth trends
continue, these clusters will
eventually move into the top right
quadrant. Clusters in this quadrant
are considered emerging strengths
for the region.
section 01
Modified from:

5. 02 Region1 Foothills Region & 4 NC counties Foothills Region
Buncombe County
Burke County
Gaston County
Henderson County

6. Foothill Region & 4 NC counties
Overview
Foothill Region & 4 NC counties
This region is comprised of the Foothills Region plus four additional counties from North Carolina. Charlotte lies to the east of the region.
Buncombe
Burke
Cleveland (Foothills)
Gaston
Henderson
McDowell (Foothills)
Polk (Foothills)
Rutherford (Foothills)
section 02

7. Industry cluster bubble chart
Industry and occupation
Industry cluster bubble chart
Mature
Star
Transforming
Emerging
Note: Label includes cluster name, LQ in 2014, and Employment in 2014
section 02
Source: EMSI Class of Worker (QCEW, non-QCEW, self-employed and extended proprietors).

8. Manufacturing sub-cluster bubble chart
Industry and occupation
Manufacturing sub-cluster bubble chart
Mature
Star
Transforming
Emerging
Note: Label includes cluster name, LQ in 2014, and Employment in 2014
section 02
Source: EMSI Class of Worker (QCEW, non-QCEW, self-employed and extended proprietors).

9. Level of Specialization
Industry cluster analysis
Mature Clusters
Fabricated Metal Prod Mfg. (1.58; 5,720)
Machinery Manufacturing (1.25; 3,613)
Star Clusters
Electrical Equip., App & Comp Mfg. (4.97; 4,915)
Apparel & Textiles (3.49; 11,616)
Transportation Equipment Mfg. (2.16; 8,416)
Glass & Ceramics (2.04; 1,491)
Chemicals (1.91; 10,250)
Manufacturing Supercluster (1.64; 24,685)
Forest & Wood Products (1.61; 10,497)
Advanced Materials (1.51; 19,960)
Biomedical/Biotechnical (1.32; 45,974)
Level of Specialization
Percent Growth in Specialization
Transforming Clusters
Transportation & Logistics (0.87; 12,206)
Energy (Fossil & Renewable) (0.83; 20,258)
Education & Knowledge Creation (0.68; 6,963)
Business & Financial Services (0.65; 36,969)
Computer & Electronic Prod Mfg. (0.51; 1,335)
Mining (0.5; 682)
Emerging Clusters
Arts, Enter., Rec & Visitor Industries (0.98; 17,899)
Printing & Publishing (0.81; 6,175)
Agribusiness, Food Proc & Tech (0.8; 10,718)
IT & Telecommunications (0.75; 13,293)
Primary Metal Manufacturing (0.68; 686)
Defense & Security (0.5; 9,444)
section 02
NOTE: The first number after each cluster represents its location quotient while the second number represents the number of total jobs (full and part time jobs by place of work) in that cluster in the region in The clusters are sorted in decreasing order by location quotient.

10. Regional requirements, 2013
Industry Clusters: Leakages
Regional requirements, 2013
Note: ** shows Star clusters
section 02
Source: EMSI Class of Worker (QCEW, non-QCEW, self-employed and extended proprietors).

11. 03
Region2
4 NC counties
Buncombe
Burke
Gaston
Henderson

12. Four NC counties Foothills Region Overview
Two counties in the West and two counties in the East of the Foothills Region form this experimental region. This is a noncontiguous area and the objective is to know the competitive clusters in the surrounding region.
Buncombe
Burke
Gaston
Henderson
Foothills Region
section 03

13. Industry cluster bubble chart
Industry and occupation
Industry cluster bubble chart
Mature
Star
Transforming
Emerging
Note: Label includes cluster name, LQ in 2014, and Employment in 2014
section 03
Source: EMSI Class of Worker (QCEW, non-QCEW, self-employed and extended proprietors).

14. Manufacturing sub-cluster bubble chart
Industry and occupation
Manufacturing sub-cluster bubble chart
Mature
Star
Transforming
Emerging
Note: Label includes cluster name, LQ in 2014, and Employment in 2014
section 03
Source: EMSI Class of Worker (QCEW, non-QCEW, self-employed and extended proprietors).

15. Level of Specialization
Industry cluster analysis
Mature Clusters
Electrical Equip, App & Comp Mfg. (5.46; 4,243)
Apparel & Textiles (3.04; 7,945)
Fabricated Metal Product Mfg. (1.44; 4,096)
Advanced Materials (1.37; 14,253)
Machinery Manufacturing (1.12; 2,543)
Star Clusters
Transportation Equipment Mfg. (2.37; 7,245)
Manufacturing Supercluster (1.65; 19,536)
Glass & Ceramics (1.56; 896)
Forest & Wood Products (1.44; 7,346)
Chemicals (1.33; 5,604)
Biomedical/Biotechnical (1.22; 33,320)
Arts, Enter, Rec & Visitor Industries (1.08; 15,536)
Level of Specialization
Percent Growth in Specialization
Transforming Clusters
Energy (Fossil & Renewable) (0.84; 16,080)
IT & Telecommunications (0.81; 11,233)
Business & Financial Services (0.71; 31,572)
Education & Knowledge Creation (0.66; 5,231)
Computer & Electronic Product Mfg. (0.57; 1,174)
Defense & Security (0.48; 7,099)
Mining (0.38; 403)
Emerging Clusters
Printing & Publishing (0.81; 4,871)
Transportation & Logistics (0.79; 8,687)
Agribusiness, Food Proc & Tech (0.76; 7,970)
Primary Metal Manufacturing (0.3; 236)
section 03
NOTE: The first number after each cluster represents its location quotient while the second number represents the number of total jobs (full and part time jobs by place of work) in that cluster in the region in The clusters are sorted in decreasing order by location quotient.

16. Regional requirements, 2013
Industry Clusters: Leakages
Regional requirements, 2013
Note: ** shows Star clusters
section 03
Source: EMSI Class of Worker (QCEW, non-QCEW, self-employed and extended proprietors).

17. 04
Region3
3 SC counties
Cherokee
Greenville
Spartanburg

18. Three SC counties Overview
The three counties region forms the northern boundary of South Carolina and it is adjacent to the NC Foothills Region. The region is at the crossroads of interstates I-85 and I-26. I-85 connects to Charlotte metropolitan area in the northeast.
Cherokee
Greenville
Spartanburg
section 04

19. Industry cluster bubble chart
Industry and occupation
Industry cluster bubble chart
Mature
Star
Transforming
Emerging
Note: Label includes cluster name, LQ in 2014, and Employment in 2014
section 04
Source: EMSI Class of Worker (QCEW, non-QCEW, self-employed and extended proprietors).

20. Manufacturing sub-cluster bubble chart
Industry and occupation
Manufacturing sub-cluster bubble chart
Mature
Star
Transforming
Emerging
Note: Label includes cluster name, LQ in 2014, and Employment in 2014
section 04
Source: EMSI Class of Worker (QCEW, non-QCEW, self-employed and extended proprietors).

21. Level of Specialization
Industry cluster analysis
Mature Clusters
Chemicals (2.66; 15,451)
Apparel & Textiles (2.64; 9,515)
Electrical Equip., App & Comp Mfg. (2.31; 2,468)
Machinery Manufacturing (2.28; 7,133)
Advanced Materials (1.49; 21,295)
Fabricated Metal Product Mfg. (1.48; 5,792)
Transportation & Logistics (1.18; 17,841)
Education & Knowledge Creation (1.07; 11,723)
Star Clusters
Transportation Equipment Mfg. (3.01; 12,699)
Manufacturing Supercluster (1.82; 29,715)
Energy (Fossil & Renewable) (1.07; 28,276)
Level of Specialization
Percent Growth in Specialization
Transforming Clusters
Forest & Wood Products (0.98; 6,932)
Glass & Ceramics (0.98; 775)
Business & Financial Services (0.79; 48,486)
IT & Telecommunications (0.79; 14,984)
Printing & Publishing (0.76; 6,243)
Biomedical/Biotechnical (0.63; 23,875)
Mining (0.61; 900)
Agribusiness, Food Proc & Tech (0.49; 7,074)
Primary Metal Manufacturing (0.12; 128)
Emerging Clusters
Arts, Enter, Rec & Visitor Industries (0.68; 13,452)
Defense & Security (0.66; 13,489)
Computer & Electronic Product Mfg. (0.52; 1,495)
section 04
NOTE: The first number after each cluster represents its location quotient while the second number represents the number of total jobs (full and part time jobs by place of work) in that cluster in the region in The clusters are sorted in decreasing order by location quotient.

22. Regional requirements, 2013
Industry Clusters: Leakages
Regional requirements, 2013
Note: ** shows Star clusters
section 04
Source: EMSI Class of Worker (QCEW, non-QCEW, self-employed and extended proprietors).