07/30/2008

Associated Press

A new study says North Carolina has lost nearly 80,000 jobs to China since 2001.

The Economic Policy Institute, supported by the Alliance for American Manufacturing, reports that the growth of U.S. trade with China since the country entered the World Trade Organization in 2001 has devastated the domestic economy.

North Carolina ranked eighth among the 50 states and Washington D.C., with 79,800 jobs lost. California, Texas, New York, and Illinois also saw significant losses.

The apparel industry was most affected in North Carolina with 11,372 jobs lost between 2001 and 2007.

Scott Paul, exeuctive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, said any jobs that are being created are not making up for the income lost through jobs shipped overseas.