Economic doubts as WNC reacts to Trump's State of the Union
HENDERSONVILLE, N. C. — Residents of western North Carolina voiced economic skepticism after President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Feb. 24, saying the address did not line up with local experience on Main Street.
Economic reaction in Hendersonville
Dawn Sewell, a waitress who has worked six years at Mike’s on Main Sandwich Shop in Hendersonville, said she voted for President Donald Trump in his second term but that what he said about the economy did not resonate as she watched a portion of the State of the Union on Feb. 24. Sewell, who is known at the shop for being ready with a smile and good service, said business has been down since Helene but may be slightly coming back. She said she is unsure what to expect with business and the economy in Hendersonville and will continue to work hard in her shifts. FEB. 25, 2026.
Builders and small businesses weigh inflation
Aaron Black, a home and commercial builder with a main office on Main Street in Hendersonville, said he feels inflation “is kicking everyone in the teeth, including myself. ” At the same time he said, “For us, the economy’s great. ” Black said his construction business is doing well but that he’s not sure about others in Henderson County and that he feels people are hurting. He added that current data for jobs in western North Carolina doesn’t paint a clear picture of whether the regional trend is up or down.
Workforce board data and regional job trends
A recent study by the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board crunched jobs and employment data for Henderson, Buncombe, Madison, and Transylvania counties dating back to 2020. UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN TO 3. 2% IN WESTERN NC, MOUNTAIN AREA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD SAYS. The report showed the following unemployment percentages for the counties: unclear in the provided context. The board's report found that from 2020 to 2025, jobs increased by 9. 4%, which is just 1. 2% below the national growth of 10. 6%. The study also noted that 2025 had fewer jobs in the four-county region compared with 2024.
Layoffs at Baxter and regional impact
WHAT'S NEXT FOR WNC AMID RISE IN MANUFACTURING LAYOFFS? EXPERT WARNS OF RIPPLE EFFECT. Two major regional manufacturers in the past 60 days announced major layoffs. BAXTER ELIMINATES 3% OF MARION FACILITY'S WORKFORCE, CITES POST-HELENE MARKET CONDITIONS. Baxter in Marion, which makes IV medical devices, said 90 workers would be let go due to the economic impacts of Helene.
Experts and residents see mixed signals
“I worry about a slowdown or a recession, ” Cohen said. Cohen added, “There are a lot of policies that are creating uncertainty, and so we’re trying to see how companies, businesses, and households are reacting to those policies. But the U. S. economy continues to power through a lot of this uncertainty, so that makes people more optimistic that maybe we’ll continue to power through. But I think there are definitely worrying trends. ” The comment followed the region’s mixed job numbers and recent manufacturing layoffs, which residents and small-business owners cited while reacting to the Feb. 24 speech.
Local voters and business owners in Hendersonville and the surrounding counties are watching both the job data and firm-by-firm developments — from construction offices on Main Street to Baxter’s Marion facility — for signs of which way the local economic picture will move next. What comes next for the region is unclear in the provided context.
