ASHEVILLE, N.C. —  Local workforce development leader Nathan Ramsey addressed the local low wages versus high housing costs’ dilemma in his “The State of the Local Economy” update — and he also presented an “Affordable Housing Report” — to the Asheville-based, pro-business Council of Independent Business Owner on May 1 in UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center.

Ramsey is executive director of the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board with Land of Sky Regional Council, serving the counties of Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania. In his talk, he also frequently referenced the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area, comprised of Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood and Madison counties.

An estimated 60 people attended the early-morning breakfast meeting.

In his presentation on the “State of the Local Economy,” Ramsey asserted, “Our housing challenge (in the Asheville metro area) isn’t only because our housing prices are too high, it is because our wages are below North Carolina and national averages. And our housing prices are above North Carolina and national averages. Yes, we need more housing, but we also need better-paying jobs.”

Also, he said, “Note the greatest disparity in wages are in our highest-paying occupations and sectors. It isn’t because we have more lower-paying jobs, it is because our higher-paying jobs pay much less than larger metros. 

“But don’t necessarily blame employers. Many employers are paying their workers as much as they can. Businesses in Western North Carolina are much smaller than North Carolina and national averages. 

“Small businesses cannot pay as much are large businesses. You already know this because we (the Asheville metro area) are not a place with many corporate headquarters and publicly traded companies — we are a small-business community.” 

Ramsey added, “And before you blame the hospitality and tourism sector, our region’s hospitality and tourism jobs pay more than the state average for that sector. We do have a greater share of those jobs here, which makes sense as we are a tourist mecca. But tourism isn’t our largest economic sector — not even close. Our largest sectors for economic impact are healthcare closely followed by manufacturing.”

Ramsey also reported the Asheville-area localities’ average private sector wages for 2026, including Buncombe County, $59,020; Henderson County, $54,118; Transylvania County, $49,554; Madison County, $47,226; and Haywood County, $47,053.

He added that the state’s average private sector wage in 2026 is $70,662.

Among the state localities with the top-paying private sector wages are Durham County, $102,817; Mecklenburg County, $90,706; and Wake County, $80,616; Forsyth County, $68,864; and Guilford County, $62,455.

From Staff Reports 

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson met here on May 1 with local law enforcement — including the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office and Asheville Police Department — to discuss what was described as a “troubling” spike in violent crime in Asheville.

Following is the background and context leading to the meeting:

• Rise in violent crime: The meeting was prompted by a surge in violent incidents, including three separate weekend shootings in early March 2026 that left two people dead and several injured.

• National spotlight: The meeting followed a Fox News Digital report on April 25 that described Asheville as being “plagued by homelessness, crime and public intoxication.”

• Federal intervention: Ferguson expressed that while violent crime in 2025 actually saw a decline, the early 2026 spike necessitated a coordinated federal and local effort to, “disrupt gang activity, reduce violent crime and give young people a different path forward.”