After laying off employees last year to weather the economic downturn, North Carolina's top industries like health care are hiring back employees displaced by the last two years' recession. The Transylvania Regional Hospital, a 96-bed health facility in Brevard, plans to hire at least 16 nurses this year to replace vacated positions, the Citizen Times reported. However, applications have leveled off in the past few months, said hospital employment specialist Lisa Owenby. Owenby told the news provider that the low turnout of applications could mean that nurses are staying in their jobs longer. "My hope is the decrease means people are starting to find jobs," she said. Clark Duncan, director of business and industry services at Asheville-Buncombe County, said there will be keen competition for new jobs as companies regain their momentum after the crisis. He added that this year's first quarter job figures is the strongest in the past six quarters. As companies ride out the recession, head hunters and HR executives expect hiring to pick up across industries. In the health care sector, for example, demand for nurses remains high, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which expects the profession to expand by 22% through 2018.  |