“What companies in my area hire for the job I want?” This is a question that is important for career explorers when discovering new occupations.
The first place many turn to discover this information is a job board, and that makes sense. A job board is a great place to discover businesses that are actively hiring for a chosen role, but not all companies are hiring or for every role all the time. Knowing more companies in your area helps you network, pursue work-based learning activities, and target specific businesses.
The NCcareers Business Search tool was built for this specific purpose. Combining Staffing Patterns data with a private business listings database allows us to list the industries and business that typically hire any chosen occupation. Whether you’re a student exploring careers, an educator supporting students, a job seeker researching employers, or a career professional helping someone plan their next step, the Business Search tool can help you discover where a career could take you.
From an occupation to real-world employers
You can search for businesses directly in the tool by choosing an occupation, industry, geography, and more. Your results appear on a map, with more detail about each business in a table below.
This data is also visible on each occupation profile page. Look for the Business/Industry Data section in the left-hand side of the page. Expand the menu to see the industries that hire for that occupation, along with a sample of businesses. Select an industry or business name and you will be taken to the Business Search tool where you can see a complete list for your chosen geography.
Who can find this tool useful, and how?
Counselors and Workforce Professionals: Use the tool to help answer the question that often follows an occupation profile: “Who nearby hires for this career?” You can explore local employers, identify industries connected to an occupation, and have more informed conversations with clients about career options and geographic mobility.
Job Seekers: Think of the tool as a starting point for building your employer outreach list. Not every position is advertised publicly. Opportunities can come through direct contacts, referrals, and professional networks. Use the tool to identify organizations and industries connected to your occupation, research them, and explore their websites for current or future opportunities.
Educators: Connect classroom learning to the local workforce. Use it to identify businesses that may be potential partners for guest speakers, workplace visits, job shadowing, and other work-based learning opportunities.
Students: Career exploration gets more concrete. Instead of only learning about what an occupation does, discover the industries and businesses where that career exists, including places to look for potential internship or apprenticeship opportunities.
About the data
1. The employer information is provided by Data Axle, a business information provider, and is not LEAD-specific data. There may be some inaccurate business listings so consider this information as a lead list that still needs to be verified.
2. This tool is not a job board and businesses listed do not necessarily have current job openings. It provides a broader view of businesses that may employ people in a selected occupation. This can help you discover employers and industries you might not find through a traditional job search.